Pies Descalzos Foundation

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Pies Descalzos Foundation (Bare Feet Foundation) is a colombian charity founded by pop artist Shakira in 2001 with special schools for poor kids in Quibdó (a city on the Pacific coast of Colombia) and Barranquilla.

Their programs and services offer genuine solutions to improve the children’s quality of life. They recognize and respect their basic rights and treat them as worthy individuals.

[edit] 2004 Efforts

Shakira and the Pies Descalzos Foundation proved that it is possible to help change people’s lives, and in 2004 the work of the Foundation turned to Shakira’s hometown of Barranquilla. We built two new schools, Escuela Las Americas and Escuela Siete de Abril. The schools brought change to two neighborhoods that had been devastated by displacement, homelessness and poverty. The two Pies Descalzos schools provide services for 990 children.

That same year, 'Pies Descalzos' initiated work in Soacha, Cundinamarca, a suburb on the outskirts of Bogotá. According to the Colombian Social Welfare Network, Soacha has one of the highest rates of incoming victims of displacement. Their work began at the Gabriel Garcia Marquez and El Minuto schools in the Altos de Cazuca neighborhoods, providing opportunities for another 980 children.

According to official statistics, 57000 children were reportedly displaced in 2004. The Pies Descalzos Foundation schools are able to help 4.6% of these children. This number can grow with your help. Your contribution helps to build respectable communities that provide sustainable jobs and give people the chance for a better future.

The year 2004 was significant for the Pies Descalzos Foundation. They reached many of the goals they had set for the Foundation; they faced challenges head-on, and worked with many children whose lives were disrupted because of the violence and conflict. Many children were happy because they had access to an education and to better nutrition, but most importantly, the foundation gave them hope.

In 2004, the foundation initiated a school cafeteria that was managed totally by the neighborhood moms.

[edit] Funding

Support for the Foundation comes from contributions by Shakira and donations from national and international companies who care about social responsibility. They also work with multilateral corporations who endorse special projects and have formed alliances with government agencies.