Started in 2009, MSC’s collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has contributed to building hope for children in need around the world. In the past four years, as part of the MSC Cruises’ ‘Get on Board for Children’ initiative, and, thanks to the generosity of MSC Cruises’ guests, more than €2.8 million was donated to UNICEF in Brazil to combat poverty and inequality by helping ensure children in 126 vulnerable communities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paolo achieve access to a quality education. 
1st January 2014 saw the start of a new partnership between MSC Cruises and UNICEF aiming at providing assistance to malnourished children by delivering Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) – like Plumpy’Nut– to treat severe malnutrition in developing countries and in countries affected by crisis situations.
Malnutrition and famine claim the lives of over a million children every year and stunt the physical and mental development of many more. Severe acute malnutrition has traditionally required hospitalisation, however RUTFs can be eaten straight from the sachet: they can be given to children without being mixed in water so they can work in any situation at home and without medical supervision.
“Around three sachets a day for four to six weeks can put a child out of harm’s way and with the generosity of our on board guests we will do our best to save and improve as many lives as possible,” said Gianni Onorato, Chief Executive of MSC Cruises. “MSC Cruises believes that global leadership brings increased responsibility towards the physical and human environments in which it operates, and as such we are proud to have strengthened our partnership with UNICEF. Together, we can make a difference.”
”We are delighted with our long-standing partnership with MSC Cruises – it makes a significant contribution to improving living conditions for thousands of children,” said Elsbeth Müller, Executive Director of UNICEF Switzerland. “We are impressed that passengers donate one Euro to UNICEF at check-out. Their donation helps ensure that children grow up healthily and have a promising future. Thank you very much for this great commitment.”
By donating just €1 (or US$1.50) to ‘Get on Board for Children’, MSC guests can help buy three meals of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food. A full treatment to save a child’s life in four to six weeks costs approximately €42. In addition to donations received from guests, MSC Cruises will also organise edutainment activities for children on board, raising awareness about UNICEF’s work and children’s needs around the world.
