1997 to 2002
Shakira creates the Foundation after achieving her first international success “Pies Descalzos” giving the philanthropic project the same name. The idea was established after witnessing children displaced by poverty and violence in the streets of her hometown in Barranquilla.

2003
Shakira is appointed Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF.

Shakira invites former Foreign Minister and former Minister of Education María Emma Mejía to take the position as Executive President of the Pies Descalzos Foundation, whose headquarters are located in Bogotá.

The Foundation begins work on a massive nutritional program for displaced children in deprived communities in Colombia.

2004
Construction begins on the first Pies Descalzos school in Quíbdo.

Construction begins at the El Minuto de Dios school, as well as institutional support to the Gabriel García Márquez school, located in the municipality of Soacha, in the outskirts of Bogota.

The Foundation supports two institutions; Las Americas and Siete located in Barranquilla’s poorest neighborhood. These institutions attend to 1,565 children.

The Foundation opens an office in Quibdó.

Monitoring programs and personalized nutritional programs are reinforced. During this time, psychosocial support programs begin.

2005
The Foundation produces the 'I Strategic Plan 2006 - 2008', whose main goal is the comprehensive care of children from vulnerable displaced areas.

The Pies Descalzos Foundation opens a primary school in Quibdó for 550 children.

Strengthening of the educational intervention strategy for 3,072 children and youth. Also strengthening of the comprehensive model for the community development center for 10,500 people who pay attention to their surroundings.

The Foundation opens an office in Barranquilla.

The Foundation establishes partnerships and agreements with national agencies and multilateral development programs.

The Foundation opens an office in Soacha, Cundinamarca.

2006
Extended care provided to 3,610 children and young people at headquarters supported by our foundation.

Strengthened educational programs with a direct focus on literacy and mathematics.

In an initiative to build a brand new school in Barranquilla, Shakira gives a concert in the city, in December.

The “Donate a brick for $15,000”, campaign is launched and reaches a landmark figure of 52,000 donors and citizens who joined the initiative.

The second part of the district school Las Americas in Barranquilla is being built with support from European Foundations.

2007
Establishing new cooperative partnerships with major donations from Spain and Germany.

Extending the nutritional program to a formation of food security, allowing for greater sustainability for the beneficiary families.

Acquired land by the District of Barranquilla in the town of La Playa, for the future construction of the brand new Pies Descalzos school.

The model of intervention in administrative, educational and community policy is strengthened.

Programs are initiated for sustainable income generation and make the first associations with parents and youth in Soacha and Quibdó.

College scholarships are awarded to the students demonstrating a high level of achievements.  This strategy is implemented as “peer educators”.

The Pies Descalzos Foundation begins their project on the Educational Institution in Barranquilla. The process of census education and outreach to the community takes place.

Embodying the external audit process with the international firm Deloitte and Organizationals firms Innovative Philanthropy and Compartamos.

2008
Start building the mega school in the town of La Playa, in Barranquilla.

Developed the "II Strategic Plan 2009 – 2011”, whose mission is to implement a model to support quality public and private assistance.

Work begins teaching a curriculum based on tailor-made institutions and given new learning methodologies.

A new Board of Members composed of renowned personalities from the private sector and philanthropy.

200
The brand new Pies Descalzos mega college opens in Barranquilla. The Founder and other personalities were amongst those participating in the grand opening.

Ambitious program starts generating revenue and sustainability mechanism that closes the intervention model Pies Descalzos.

Established partnerships with Academia, private enterprise and the State for development of educational model.

First approach are made to build a new school in Cartagena de Indias.

Establishing strategic alliances that have early childhood intervention, according to the Millennium Development Goals.

2010
After the earthquake struck Haiti in January 2010, Shakira visited Port-au-Prince and pledged to support education in the country.

During the month of June, the campaign “Mango - Waka Waka” led by Shakira started, which aimed to raise funds to support a multipurpose room in a school in Soweto.

Shakira performed the traditional Christmas commercial for Freixenet, by which it decided to donate a portion of the campaign earnings to her Pies Descalzos Foundation for the construction of two new schools: One in Port-au-Prince (Haiti) and the other in Cartagena (Colombia).

The mega college in the town of La Playa in Barranquilla received a "High Level" in “Pruebas Saber 11”.