The Colombian singer Shakira has inaugurated a new education center Barefoot Feet Foundation in the Colombian city Barranquilla, his hometown, which will also function as a community development center. The more than 53,000 residents of the Nuevo Bosque neighborhood community will also benefit from the implementation of the project.
“I would like to thank the donors and partners of this project who made this possible; “la Caixa” Foundation, Barcelona Futbol Club Foundation, LCI Education, the Mayor’s Office of Barranquilla and, above all, the teachers who accompany our students on the noblest and most important path of education so that we can build together a better present and a bright future as our Colombian children deserve,” said Shakira during the handover ceremony of the new educational institution Nuevo Bosque-Pies Descalzos.
A school with a large capacity to accommodate students
The 6,000 square meter school will accommodate around 1,000 students who will study there each year Elementary school and high school. It will also be a community center that will provide development spaces for fathers, mothers, guardians and other members of the community. “We have seen the impact of school infrastructure and education on girls, boys and young people in Colombia We will continue to support them with appropriate spaces for their learning and educational projects that strengthen their skills and talents in their present and future”; announced Pies Descalzos Foundation Executive Director Patricia Sierra.
The project, which began in 2018, is now a reality in the Barranquilla district New forest. More than 16,000 million euros were invested in the school to equip it with 22 regular classrooms, 4 preschool classrooms, two laboratories, art rooms, a library, a dining hall, a kitchen and other common spaces for the use of students and the community.
Representatives from partner organizations take part in the inauguration of the center
Representatives of associated organizations took part in the handover ceremony. Xavier Bertolín, Corporate Director of Education and Marketing of the “la Caixa” Foundation, assured: “We promote Education transformation with the aim of improving the quality of learning and ensuring justice and equal opportunities for young people, especially those in more vulnerable situations. With our support for the creation of this new school, we want to help ensure that the children of Barranquilla, who grew up in an environment of need, can live can achieve a better future».
The General Director of the FC Barcelona Foundation, Marta Segú, shared the “great satisfaction for the Barça Foundation” in wanting to “open the Nuevo Bosque School in Barranquilla with such important allies with whom we share goals and values. “Education and sports are magical tools for change the lives of children and young people and offer their communities a hopeful future.”
Finally, Luis Diego Quirós, Director of Operations at LCI Education, emphasized that in the organization “and in the LCI Education Network, we are extremely proud to be able to support Pies Descalzos and the city of Barranquilla in strengthening one of the most important social networks.” Projects: the education of future generations. We strongly believe in the power of education and creative thinking Solve the problems that plague us today and we want to participate in projects like this that create change and a unique opportunity for a community that deserves it.”
