MSC Foundation and UNICEF celebrate a partnership that has helped save and transform the lives of so many children over the past 13 years. The total donations from MSC’s fundraising activities for UNICEF programs exceeded 12 million euros.
Since 2009, the MSC Foundation has made a vital contribution by carrying out 6 different programs in 8 countries, helping UNICEF support the education of 8,000 children in 126 vulnerable communities in Brazil, fighting malaria in Africa, assisting the Chinese dietary supplementation to prevent child malnutrition and provide life-saving ready-to-use therapeutic treatments to more than 115,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition in Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia, and Malawi.
In 2019, MSC Foundation also stepped in as the first partner in the “Plastic waste goes to School” program in Ivory Coast. An initiative that acts on three fronts through the support of marginalized women who collect waste, the transformation and recycling of plastic waste collected in bricks, and their use for the construction of modern and ecological classrooms. The importance of this third component cannot be underestimated in a country where 1.6 million children are currently not in school, mainly because there is a lack of educational facilities.
The Foundation’s unwavering support has enabled the program to make a significant impact on the lives of thousands of children, giving them access to education and a brighter future. But its impact extends even further, having removed tons of plastic waste from landfills and advocating female empowerment by educating vulnerable women as waste collectors. MSC has also been instrumental in establishing the UNICEF-backed factory where plastic waste is used to build modern, durable bricks.
To date, “Plastic Waste Goes to School” has trained 188 women, now organized into a formal association, recycling approximately 616,000 kg of plastic waste and completing 112 modern classrooms that have given 6,224 children access to quality education.
The MSC Foundation’s broad support to UNICEF includes the “Get On Board for Children” fundraising campaign featured on MSC Cruises ships as well as partnerships for education, community support and emergency relief efforts. Furthermore, the Foundation organizes advocacy activities to raise public awareness of the work of UNICEF, including through the song “I Can Believe: MSC for UNICEF” and edutainment activities on board the MSC Cruises fleet, which involves thousands of children and boys. The various initiatives also include the KIDS UNITED magazine, which offers children a fun and interactive way to learn while also addressing important topics, as an exciting and enjoyable part of their cruise experience.
In addition to this, the MSC Foundation offers outstanding public exposure, having included UNICEF in over 20 international events. By showcasing UNICEF’s efforts and impact, the Foundation raises awareness and further helps the organization in its mission to improve the lives of children around the world.
The Foundation’s broad support for UNICEF’s emergency response efforts has recently included assistance to communities devastated by floods in Malawi, Cyclone Idai in Mozambique and Zimbabwe, Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the COVID-19 pandemic. 19 worldwide.
To celebrate the achievements of this partnership, Bettina Junker, CEO of UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein, commented: “We are extremely grateful that our partnership with the MSC Foundation has passed another incredible milestone, with €12 million in donations raised to date. We appreciate the MSC Foundation’s generous support and strong outreach to the work of UNICEF! Thanks to the support of MSC, UNICEF has been able to save and improve the lives of children, both by supporting innovative educational programs in the Ivory Coast and Brazil and by providing life-saving treatments against malnutrition to children in Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia, Malawi and China. We look forward to the next chapter of our partnership and are excited to continue driving change for children and young people every day.”
MSC Foundation Executive Director Daniela Picco said: “It is an honor to work side by side with UNICEF. Our partnership has grown steadily since we started together thirteen years ago. It has been a journey of passion and work. as a team, comparing ourselves on very different programs around the world, but always achieving incredible results that have significantly improved the lives of children. We are extremely proud of this new milestone and very grateful for the generous donations of the millions of MSC Cruises guests who over the years they have come together to assist the wonderful work of UNICEF.”