The Barefoot Foundation is a U.S. non-profit, non-governmental organization created by internationally acclaimed recording artist and humanitarian Shakira. The organization is devoted to ensuring that every child can exercise his or her basic right to a quality education.  We aim to improve the education and quality of life for the millions of boys and girls denied the chance to fulfill their potential.

Our Colombian partner, the Pies Descalzos Foundation, is a Colombian non-profit, non-governmental organization devoted to providing opportunties for children in Colombia. LEARN MORE >

Shakira Announces Haiti School Initiative to Aid Recovery

NEW YORK—Prior to her performance on the Hope for Haiti Now Telethon, Shakira announced an initiative to build a new school in Haiti through her Barefoot Foundation. The Foundation will work in partnership with Architecture for Humanity to build the school and NGO partners to provide education, school feeding, clean water and sanitation services. Foundation board member Howard Buffett, World Food Program Ambassador Against Hunger and chairman of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, will fund the school feeding component of the initiative and other related services such as providing safe water and sanitation. LEARN MORE >

We Inaugurated a New Flagship School!

On February 4, 2009, the Pies Descalzos Foundation opened its fifth school in a ceremony attended by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and Shakira. The school will serve 1,800 students in Barranquilla and create a community center in a neighborhood suffering from poverty and displacement. In addition to quality bilingual education, the school offers vocational training, income-generating projects, health services and programs for the entire community. LEARN MORE >