POSITIVE RESULTS SHOWN IN “GET ON BOARD FOR CHILDREN”
PROJECT WITH MSC CRUISES’S STRONG COMMITMENT TO UNICEF
THE PROJECT
A unique “Get on board for Children” project
initiated just under a year ago by MSC Cruises to
support an innovative UNICEF initiative in Brazil to
combat poverty and inequality by ensuring better
and more equal quality education opportunities is
showing positive progress on a daily basis.
The project is a result of a three-year partnership
agreement signed on 7 July 2009 by MSC Cruises
to support the UNICEF Platform for Urban
Centres
in
Brazil
which
aim
to
assist
disadvantaged children in Rio de Janeiro and São
Paulo.
THE METHOD
Figure 1 Board Game for illustrating the
Platform for Urban Centres approach ©UNICEF
The initiative is based on a bottom-up integrated approach in which the community is seen as a
vital part of the solution.
THE MAIN ACTIVITIES PROMOTED
In recent months a total of 7333 people living in the
favelas – namely 4331 in Rio de Janeiro and 3002 in
São Paolo – were interviewed in order to map out and
list their most urgent needs. It is the most complete
survey ever carried out for disadvantaged
communities and it highlights, among other pressing
issues, the general lack of basic education services and
absence of free transportation to and from school.
In addition 204 Youth Ambassadors were selected,
trained and given scholarships to monitor local
networks on a permanent basis and help with the Figure 2, Workshop in São Paolo
social mobilization of communities. In particular they ©UNICEF/SEMDET
were expected to encourage younger members in the communities to participate in workshops and
forums and assist with evaluations of their respective situations.
Following on from this, 80 community youth members aged between 13 and 18, as well as
students from public schools, were given the opportunity to convey the major concerns and needs
arising out of these workshops to the mayors of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo during an official
presentation.
One of the objectives of the Platform for Urban Centres is to boost opportunities in all the possible
areas, from education to health and social assistance, from protection from HIV/AIDS to culture,
recreation, sport as well as urban infrastructure. In 2009 alone, 108 themed workshops and 90
forums were organized and thanks can largely be attributed to the “MSC for UNICEF” partnership,
which mainly support the educational goals of the Platform.
As a result several “Communication in Education” training workshops were held for the promotion
of community leaders as well as courses for apprentices and young entrepreneurs, social workers
and sports coaches. In addition five vocational courses were implemented for Human Resources
Assistant, Supply Assistant, Finance Assistant, Register Assistant and Event Planner.
Testimonial
It is the kind of positive action that has made some
youngsters proud of what can be achieved.
“…before there was no sense in life (…) the Platform
gave me the opportunities, now I know what it feels like
sitting with a debating team and listing what
improvements are necessary for my community…” said
Michel Santos Ribeiro, Youth Ambassador in São Paulo.
Figure 3, Raquel Maciel, one of the 204
Youth Ambassadors ©UNICEF/BRZ /Richard
Stanley
“MSC for UNICEF” general objectives:
• Gain the support of schools: aim is to have 254 schools are participating in the initiative.
• Organise biannual seminars for local authorities focusing on challenges and solutions for the
improvement of school education within the favelas
• Support and provide training for 528 staff members of local authorities in order to promote
democratic school administration and provide full-time education
• Run workshops for 528 school coordinators and teachers with instruction on how to improve
education, involve local communities and employ alternative teaching and learning methods in
socially disadvantaged areas in an active manner
• Assist and support working groups and youth ambassadors in their efforts to create awareness
of the project and motivate the community
• Encourage pupils to participate in the improvement of school environments by promoting the
maintenance of school infrastructure and mutual respect with the aim of curbing violent behavior
in schools. Aim is to have 1270 pupils involved.
• Encourage pupils to participate in local school education surveys. So far 7620 pupils are
involved.
About MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises currently has the most modern fleet in the world (fleets of four ships or more), comprising eleven
ships: MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia (the largest ships ever built for a European ship owner), MSC Poesia,
MSC Orchestra, MSC Musica, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Armonia, MSC Opera, MSC Lirica and MSC Melody.
MSC Magnifica, the newest ship in the fleet, was launched in March 2010. The fleet cruises year round in the
Mediterranean and seasonally in Northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, North America and
Canada, South America, the Indian Ocean and South and West Africa. MSC Crociere is the only company in the
world to receive the "6 Golden Pearls" award from the Bureau Veritas in recognition of its high level of quality
management and environmental protection. MSC has also achieved ISO 9001 and ISO 22000 certification for
the quality and food safety of all aspects of its catering, both onshore and onboard. MSC Cruises cares about
the welfare of children, and as a responsible market leader believes in making a positive impact in the regions
where it operates. To this end, the company recently forged a partnership with UNICEF to fund a community
project aimed at providing disadvantaged children in Brazil with a quality education.
About UNICEF
UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early
childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF
supports child health and nutrition, safe water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and
the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary
contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.