Before her Rio show, meet Pies Descalzos Foundation, created by Shakira in 1997 to transform public education for children in Colombia.
Beyond the stage
On May 2nd, Shakira takes the stage at Todo Mundo no Rio in what promises to be the biggest concert of her career. The Colombian singer holds a Guinness record as the highest-grossing Hispanic artist of all time and has been nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. But for nearly three decades, she has also been building a quieter legacy — one classroom at a time.
In 1997, Shakira founded the Pies Descalzos Foundation with a clear mission: to bring quality public education to children and teenagers across Colombia. Today, the organization is an internationally recognized model for social impact through schooling.
A voice at the United Nations
Shakira has served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2003. In 2015, she addressed the UN General Assembly with an urgent call to world leaders.
More than 100 million children are out of school and 159 million boys and girls under the age of five are physically and cognitively stunted due to lack of proper care and nutrition. Education is not a luxury — it is a right.
Shakira, UN speech, 2015
Her advocacy aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 4 on quality education. The Pies Descalzos Foundation operates across all 17 SDGs, recognizing that education is the foundation for gender equality, poverty eradication, and social mobility.
What the Foundation has built
The Pies Descalzos Foundation works through technical support to local governments, school construction, and programs designed to keep students in class and on track toward higher education. The results are remarkable.
- 22 public schools built across different regions of Colombia
- 10 more schools currently under construction in Barranquilla, Cartagena, Quibdó, La Guajira, and Norte de Santander
- Architecture designed with bioclimatic sustainability tailored to each region
- 80% of construction workers are hired from local communities
- 282,160 children and teenagers reached across the country
- 13,387 teachers trained
- More than 1 million families impacted in areas of operation
- Over 15 projects reaching more than 300 public schools nationwide
- More than 500 national and international partners
The number that says it all
In Colombia, only 4 out of every 10 students who start school actually graduate. At Pies Descalzos schools, that number climbs to 8 out of 10. And around 80% of graduates go on to pursue higher education — proof that structure, belonging, and mentorship can fundamentally change a child’s trajectory.
Event Info
- Show: Shakira — Todo Mundo no Rio
- Date: May 2, 2026
- Foundation website: https://www.piesdescalzos.org
