MSC Cruises launched an important partnership with UNICEF in 2009. By 2019 we had raised more than EUR 9 million for UNICEF thanks to the generous contributions of our guests. The funds raised are used to provide malnourished children with Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) such as Plumpy Nut® and to date more than two million sachets of RUTF have been delivered to children in Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia and Malawi. We also dispatched six containers with more than 22,000 much needed supplies to contribute towards relief efforts in Malawi.
MSC Cruises works to raise awareness on board its ships about UNICEF’s work and the needs of children around the world by organising “edutainment” activities for children and their parents. Each week sees the programme on board each of MSC Cruises’ ships including a dedicated UNICEF Day with fun games, a children’s parade and the distribution to each participating youngster of a leaflet to teach them about malnutrition in the world. They also receive a UNICEF World Citizen passport that is stamped after each educational activity is completed, making them an ambassador for the rights of the child worldwide.
In order to support biodiversity conservation, sustainable development as well as the enhancement and promotion of marine protected areas, MSC Cruises and Marevivo joined forces in 2015 to inspire young people with a passion for the sea.