France: UNICEF Ambassador to Participate in MSC Divina Christening

As a symbol of collaboration between MSC Cruises’ and UNICEF, major UNICEF representatives and guests will be involved in the christening ceremony of MSC Divina, which will take place in Marseille, France, on 26 May 2012.

When MSC Divina takes to the seas, her guests will have the opportunity to support MSC Cruises’ long term partnership with UNICEF and their joint “Get on Board for Children” initiative, which funds the UNICEF-supported ‘Platform of Urban Centres’ in Brazil. The platform focuses on combating poverty and inequality by ensuring better quality and more equal education opportunities for the vulnerable children of the favelas using a bottom-up integrated approach in which the community is seen as a vital part of the solution.

Since 2009, guests on board each ship in the MSC Cruises’ fleet have been invited to ‘get on board for children’ and make a difference by offering a small donation in addition to their cruise fare. Thanks to the generous donations of guests, MSC Cruises has raised over one million euros to date for the initiative.

On the day of the christening, critically acclaimed classical performer and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Maxim Vengerov will join MSC Cruises’ CEO Pierfrancesco Vago and MSC fleet godmother Sophia Loren for a question and answer session with international media directly following the press conference.

Joining an impressive line-up of international stars on stage for the evening’s main events, Vengerov will deliver a speech, no doubt touching on the importance of his ambassadorial role and the “Get on Board for Children” initiative itself, before releasing hundreds of UNICEF balloons with the help of local children in order to mark the occasion.

Vengerov, one of the world’s most sought-after performers in classical music, may then go on to delight guests with a surprise performance.

The high-profile christening ceremony is the perfect occasion to highlight the meaningful partnership between UNICEF and MSC Cruises and the tangible results it has already produced for disadvantaged children in Brazil.

[mappress]

Source: MSC Cruises, May 11, 2012; Image: STX