MSC Foundation and the United Nations organization dedicated to protecting children’s rights have announced the next phase of their long-standing 16-year partnership. Their renewed collaboration launches The Learning Bridge, a major three-year initiative aimed at transforming education for around 400,000 children in the Philippines, with a strong focus on Mindanao area.

The Learning Bridge targets Mindanao’s severe education crisis, where literacy and enrollment rates are the lowest in the country. Frequent extreme weather, inadequate infrastructure, and a shortage of trained teachers continue to worsen the learning gap for thousands of children. The program introduces innovative, scalable solutions, including new teaching methods designed for large classrooms and even a climate-smart “floating school” that will allow learning to continue in flood-prone areas.

MSC Group Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago underlined the importance of the initiative, noting that many MSC employees and crew members come from the Philippines. UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Kitty Van der Heijden highlighted that improving education is essential to breaking cycles of poverty and protecting children facing the realities of the climate crisis.