MSC Foundation consolidates global capabilities in its third year

Despite the relentless challenges of the Covid pandemic, the MSC Foundation successfully advanced all its existing programmes and launched new ones in 2021, while simultaneously building on its unique global emergency response know-how

Focus Area: Environmental Conservation, Community Support, Education, Emergency relief

The third operational year of the MSC Foundation proved another landmark, further demonstrating its truly global emergency response capabilities. From assisting actions that combat COVID to supporting communities devastated by hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, wildfires and urban disasters, the Foundation provided swift, life-changing support for thousands of people in need around the world.

In short, the MSC Foundation’s work in 2021 saw it:

• Lead 17 prompt emergency relief initiatives in 14 countries, assisting the fight against the COVID emergency in Brazil, The Bahamas, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Italy, Lebanon, Montenegro, Senegal, Switzerland and Vietnam, and supporting communities devasted by volcanic eruptions in Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, earthquake tremors in Haiti and wildfires in Greece.
  
  
• Advocate and partner worldwide for environmental conservation, organising the Expert Panel Discussion “Save the Coral, Save the Oceans” on MSC Seashore, which provided a productive platform for 5 key international coral restoration experts.
  
  
• Embark on the implementation phase of its pioneering Super Coral Programme to reverse the steep decline of coral reefs around the globe, launching the construction of the MSC Foundation Marine Conservation Center on Ocean Cay with a Groundbreaking Ceremony led by the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, the Right Honourable Philip Davis. You can watch a video of the ceremony here.
  
  
• Continue to grow, building strategic conservation partnerships to restore ocean health with the University of Miami, NOVA Southeastern University and the Ba’a Foundation in Saudi Arabia.
  
  
• Celebrate 10 years of partnership with Mercy Ships, bringing hope and healing across Africa thanks to its dedicated volunteers. All in all, they’ve performed 19,740 free surgeries and 218,100 dental procedures, while also providing medical training for 15,150 participants. To learn more, watch the video here.
  
  
• Support the production of eco-friendly bricks from recycled plastic waste and build 10 more classrooms for a total of 71 in the Ivory Coast under the Plastic Waste Goes to School programme, which won a UNICEF Global Inspire Award. For more info, see the video here.
  
  
• We helped maintain continuity of environmental and marine conservation education in Italy during the pandemic with Marevivo, supporting Nautici in Blu to reach some 800 school students, 80 teachers and 3,300 family members, and Guardian Dolphins of the Islands to reach around 1,000 students in 21 primary schools on 11 Italian islands. Video here.
  
  
• Inaugurate the MSC Foundation Centre on MSC Seashore, distinguished by a spectacular suspended sculpture three decks high, created by Murano glass experts Venini to a design by Monica Guggisberg and Philip Baldwin, conceived to convey the depth, light and fragility of the sea. You can see a video of its beauty here.
  
  
• Then, nearing the end of the year, many, many thanks to our generous Geneva colleagues, who really rose to the occasion this festive season, giving a total around 200 gifts to children from families in need, while 35 volunteers out of the many who came forward donated 112.5 hours to wrapping the parcels and helping distribute them to families in need. Read the full story here here.

Summarising the year’s achievements, Executive Director Daniela Picco commented: “Having established solid systems and procedures while building a highly competent team, our Foundation was again able to demonstrate unique global capabilities in 2021, despite the constant challenges of the pandemic. It was a turning point year to be proud of.”

To find out more, you can download a full-colour month-by-month account of the highlights of our work in 2021 by simply clicking here.