Shakira urges France and Germany to fund education recovery in earthquake‑hit Venezuela

Colombian singer Shakira posted a video on Instagram calling on French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to contribute to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund for Venezuela. The appeal follows two powerful earthquakes on 24 June that destroyed more than 430 schools, killed about 4,490 people, injured 16,740 and left at least 18,000 homeless.

Shakira highlighted previous pledges from Portugal’s prime minister Luís Montenegro ($100 000) and Canada’s Mark Carney ($5 million). The FIFA‑backed fund aims to raise $100 million; $500 000 has already been allocated by the FIFA Foundation. International figures also supporting the drive include Venezuelan singer Danny Ocean, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, UN Deputy Secretary‑General Amina Mohammed and Nobel Peace laureate Kailash Satyarthi.

The campaign seeks resources to rebuild schools, train teachers and supply books and learning materials so that children can return to class when schools reopen in September.