Shakira was only 20 when she launched her education mission in Colombia; nearly three decades later, her foundation reports supporting more than 300 public schools

• In Colombia, a school can mean more than a place to attend lessons.
• For families living in neighbourhoods where public services and safe facilities have been limited, the condition of a classroom can shape a child's daily life.
• Shakira began directing her attention towards education early in her music career, establishing a charitable foundation in 1997, when she was 20.