![]() (PRESS RELEASE)_Geneva, Switzerland, April 5, 2023 - The MSC Foundation and UNICEF are celebrating a partnership that has saved and transformed countless young lives for over 13 years. This landmark moment marks that the total donations from MSC's fundraising activities for UNICEF programs has passed 12 million euros. Partnering in six life-changing programs across eight countries since 2009, the MSC Foundation has helped UNICEF support education for 8,000 children in 126 vulnerable communities in Brazil, fight malaria in Africa, assist China's food supplement program preventing child malnutrition, and deliver lifesaving food treatments to more than 115,000 children with severe malnutrition in Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia and Malawi. In 2019, the MSC Foundation stepped in as the first partner in the program “Plastic Waste Goes to School” on the Ivory Coast. This three-pronged initiative simultaneously supports marginalized women waste collectors, who recycle plastic waste which is then made into innovative bricks and used to build eco-friendly modern classrooms. The importance of this third component is vital and cannot be underestimated in a country where 1.6 million children don’t currently attend school, mainly due to a lack of classrooms and schools.
The Foundation’s unwavering support has enabled the program to make a significant impact on the lives of thousands of children already, providing them with access to education and a brighter future. But its impact also spreads further, having removed many tons of plastic waste from landfills, while supporting women by training them as waste collectors. MSC was also instrumental in establishing the UNICEF-supported factory where plastic waste is recycled into durable bricks. To date, “Plastic Waste Goes to School” has trained 188 women who are now a part of an organized association that have recycled around 135,805 pounds of plastic waste and built 112 modern classrooms, enabling 6,224 children to gain access to a quality education. The MSC Foundation’s broad support for UNICEF extends from the fundraising campaign Get On Board for Children where MSC Cruises ships partnered with UNICEF on education, community support and emergency relief initiatives. Accompanying this, the Foundation organizes advocacy activities to raise awareness of UNICEF's work, through the song "I Can Believe: MSC for UNICEF" as well as activities on board the MSC Cruises fleet, engaging thousands of kids every year. One of these initiatives is the KIDS UNITED magazine, which provides a fun and interactive way for children to learn about important topics as part of their cruise experience. The MSC Foundation also provides exceptional public visibility, having included UNICEF in over 20 international events with a global audience and extensive media exposure. By showcasing UNICEF's initiatives and impact, the Foundation raises awareness and further assists UNICEF in its mission to improve children's lives worldwide. The Foundation's wide-ranging support for the UNICEF emergency response initiatives has most recently included assistance to communities devastated by flooding in Malawi, by Cyclone Idai in Mozambique and Zimbabwe, by Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and by the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. Bettina Junker, CEO of UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein, said “We are extremely grateful that our partnership with the MSC Foundation has reached yet another impressive milestone with EUR 12 million donations to date. We highly appreciate the MSC Foundation’s generous support and powerful awareness-building around UNICEF’s work. We look forward to the next chapter in our partnership and are excited to continue driving change for children and young people every day.” MSC Foundation Executive Director Daniela Picco, observed: “It is an honor to work hand in hand with UNICEF. Our partnership has grown from strength to strength ever since we set out together thirteen years ago. It’s been a journey of great teamwork, working on very different programs across the world, but always achieving incredible results for the children. We are extremely proud of this new milestone and very grateful for the generous donations of the millions of MSC Cruises guests who have been moved to assist UNICEF’s wonderful work over these years.” Comments are closed.
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