MSC Cruises to Raise Funds for Brazil through UNICEF

MSC Cruises has chosen to demonstrate its commitment to the Brazilian community through an alliance with UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund. Through the “MSC for UNICEF” initiative, the cruise line is supporting a program to help provide education to children in 126 communities in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo.

MSC Cruises will raise awareness of the program through informational brochures in every stateroom. Guests are also invited to “Get on Board for Children” by making a financial contribution. A donation of any amount can be added to a guests’ bill when the cruise commences.

The project is part of UNICEF’s “Education for All” program, dedicated to helping achieve universal education. Brazil is not only the biggest and most populous country in Latin America, but it is also one of the 11 most unequal countries in the world, with alarming levels of poverty in the major metropolitan centers.

According to a 2009 report published by UNICEF, there are 680,000 children and adolescents who don’t attend school. Research by the National Institute of Applied Economic Research reveals that almost 18 percent of adolescents between ages 15-17 do not attend school and 48 percent of children fail to complete a secondary education.

In addition, children living in poverty are 21 times more likely than their peers to be illiterate. The alliance was officially launched in Barcelona at the July 12 christening of MSC Cruises’ new flagship MSC Splendida.