MSC Foundation & UNICEF: “The Learning Bridge”
MSC Foundation and UNICEF have announced a new phase of their partnership, which has been active for over sixteen years and has already contributed a total of $17 million.
The new program, called The Learning Bridge, seeks to transform education and learning opportunities for approximately 400,000 children in the Philippines over the next three years, directly tackling the historical and current challenges facing the island of Mindanao.
Msc Foundation and unicef
Mindanao, the country’s second-largest island, faces severe educational delays due to widespread poverty, past conflicts, and the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with some of the lowest enrollment and literacy rates in the Philippines. Daily challenges, exacerbated by extreme weather events, inadequate infrastructure, limited resources, and a shortage of qualified teachers, make targeted intervention urgent. The Learning Bridge aims to offer innovative and scalable solutions, from improving teaching methods to creating climate-resilient infrastructure, ensuring quality learning and socio-emotional support for the most vulnerable children.
Among the program’s most innovative initiatives is a climate-smart floating school in the Caraga region, designed to ensure continuity of education for indigenous communities during recurring floods. In BARMM, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the program focuses on early childhood education and learning recovery, enhancing school readiness through play-based methods, innovative educational programs, and advanced teacher training. Educators will receive support in managing learning recovery, with targeted tools to ensure effective instruction at the appropriate student level.
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises and Chair of the MSC Foundation Executive Committee, highlighted the initiative as a special value for the company and the communities involved. He noted that the relationship with UNICEF, which began over 16 years ago, was a milestone in the foundation of MSC Foundation and demonstrates how purpose-driven innovation can tangibly transform children’s lives. Vago also emphasized the personal significance of the program in the Philippines, home to many employees and crew members, reflecting both the partnership with UNICEF and MSC Foundation’s tangible commitment to local communities.
Kitty Van der Heijden, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, also reiterated the importance of education as a tool to break intergenerational cycles of inequality and poverty, enabling children to build better futures. She expressed gratitude to MSC Foundation for its renewed support, which, together with the government and local communities, will implement innovative and scalable solutions to improve access to quality education for the most vulnerable children, including those most affected by the climate crisis.
Pierfrancesco Vago
Kitty Van der Heijden
Beyond teacher training and curriculum innovation, The Learning Bridge aims to strengthen community disaster preparedness, increase access to digital learning, and provide essential resources for the success of local initiatives. The program aligns with the Philippines’ National Development Plan, promoting resilient and sustainable education systems to support lifelong learning and foster long-term social and economic development.
With The Learning Bridge, MSC Foundation and UNICEF demonstrate how the private sector can effectively collaborate with international organizations and local governments to address complex challenges, bringing innovation, resources, and tangible impact to the communities that need it most.
This program represents a crucial step toward inclusive, quality education in the Philippines, providing innovative tools and climate resilience for over 400,000 children. The MSC Foundation–UNICEF partnership reinforces a long-term commitment to creating sustainable learning opportunities with positive effects for generations to come.
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