Shakira Pledges To Build School In Haiti

Shakira has committed to build a new school in Haiti through her nonprofit, Barefoot Foundation, her Web site announced Thursday.

The foundation, in partnership with Architecture for Humanity and NGO partners, will build the school and provide education, meals, clean water and sanitation services for students. Howard Buffett, a board member at Barefoot Foundation and chairman of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation will fund school meals and other related services at the school.

"There is a great need for immediate aid in Haiti, but also for longer-term reconstruction," said Shakira. "For that reason, we are doing our small part to help Haiti rebuild and give the children affected by this disaster the chance to learn and thrive. I hope we can use some of what we've learned working in Colombia to help Haiti's children recover. When we educate children we empower societies, and right now Haiti needs all of our help."

Shakira's Columbia-based foundation has provided education, nutrition and psychological support to over 6,000 Colombian children displaced by violence for the last several years.

Comments

[Cameron Sinclair]

03:14 PM on 01/21/2010

We are honored to work alongside Shakira and her foundation. They have done great work in Colombia and we are committed to help create facilities that inspire and educate the next generation of leaders.

This work is part of an overall strategy that we posted here on Sunday, looking not only at recovery but the long term reconstruction of Haiti.

Cheers
Cameron Sinclair
Co-Founder, Architecture for Humanity (and occasional Huffington Post contributor)

[archeDeWashington]

01:42 PM on 01/21/2010

Shakira don't forget about my people also. Thank you for helping people of Haiti.

www.okongo.org

[charmante]

01:39 PM on 01/21/2010

Thank you Shakira for using your star power to see that Haiti's children can have a better future