The MSC Foundation and UNICEF launch a new program to transform the education of 400,000 children in the Philippines

Today, the MSC Foundation and UNICEF announced the next phase of their 16-year partnership, which has already generated $17 million in cumulative contributions. This new chapter introduces The Learning Bridge, a new program designed to transform the education and learning of around 400,000 children in the Philippines over the next three years

The Learning Bridge seeks to address the acute learning crisis in Mindanao, the Philippines' second-largest island, where years of poverty, past conflicts, and the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to the lowest school enrollment and literacy rates in the country. Persistent challenges such as frequent extreme weather events, inadequate facilities, limited resources, and a lack of qualified teachers continue to widen the learning gap for children and adolescents on the island.

From new teaching methods that can improve learning for large numbers of students, to a floating school designed to ensure continuity of learning for an indigenous community while facing recurring flooding, this critical program will directly confront many of the interconnected challenges faced by children and adolescents by implementing innovative and scalable solutions to improve fundamental and social-emotional learning.

“Our relationship with UNICEF began more than 16 years ago and formed the cornerstone of the MSC Foundation when it was established in 2018,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Group’s Cruise Division and Chairman of the MSC Foundation Executive Committee. “Together, we have demonstrated how innovation based on a shared purpose can help transform children’s lives. This new program in the Philippines is especially meaningful to us because many MSC employees and crew members who inspire our mission come from this country, reflecting both our partnership with UNICEF and our support for the communities our people call home.”

“Education is crucial for children to break intergenerational cycles of inequality and poverty and build more prosperous futures. We are grateful for the renewed support of the MSC Foundation, which will allow us, together with the Government and local communities, to deliver innovative and scalable solutions to improve access to quality education for vulnerable children, including those on the front lines of the climate crisis,” said Kitty Van der Heijden, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director.

Key interventions include strengthening community disaster preparedness, investing in digital learning, and providing essential resources and expertise to implement regional initiatives:

In the Caraga Region, the program introduces a climate-smart floating school that ensures uninterrupted learning for children in flood-prone areas and serves as a model of climate-resilient educational infrastructure. Teachers will receive training in learning recovery strategies, including targeted tutoring and appropriate-level instruction.

In BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), the program supports early childhood education and learning recovery through teacher training, play-based learning methods, and curriculum innovation, aiming to improve school readiness, increase enrollment, and strengthen fundamental literacy and numeracy skills. The initiative is designed for sustainability and national scalability.

By fostering resilient education systems and empowering children with essential skills, “The Learning Bridge” aligns with the Philippines’ National Development Plan, promoting lifelong learning. This partnership between the MSC Foundation and UNICEF demonstrates how the private sector can support the work of UNICEF and government partners in finding solutions that lead to long-term economic and social progress.

Source: MSC Foundation / UNICEF