MSC Foundation and UNICEF Launch Programme to Support Education in the Philippines
Education plays a critical role in early childhood development. Consistent access to meaningful learning opportunities, both inside and outside the classroom, not only helps children fulfil their potential but also shapes a bright future for the communities they live in.
Across the Philippines, however, an entire generation of children is at risk of missing out on fundamental reading, writing and maths skills because of repeated disruptions to learning. Poverty, past conflict, COVID-19, climate change and extreme weather events are all contributing to this challenge. In 2024 alone, the country experienced approximately 150 disasters, affecting 93% of all schools nationwide. When calamity strikes, school facilities are frequently used as evacuation centres, leading to class suspensions and deepening learning loss.
Strengthening Early Education via The Learning Bridge
For more than 15 years, the MSC Group has partnered with UNICEF to improve children’s lives. Today, this collaboration is driven by MSC Foundation, building on a partnership first established by MSC Cruises in 2009. This longstanding collaboration has now led to the launch of the Learning Bridge, a three-year programme dedicated to supporting education in the Philippines.
Focused on strengthening early education so that children can continue learning and begin to imagine brighter futures, the Learning Bridge is being implemented in two regions of Mindanao Island where the learning crisis is most acute. These areas were selected because of significant shortages in adequate facilities, qualified teachers and quality learning materials.
Designed to become a sustainable, culturally embedded resource that is scalable across communities, the programme will equip children with the foundation needed for a brighter future grounded in continued learning and growth.Navigating Towards a Brighter Future
Through the Learning Bridge, thousands of teachers and early years workers are being trained, and new curricula and teaching resources are being developed. The programme is also helping create safe learning environments and support local efforts, including the planning and construction of a floating school in Caraga, to combat the effects of frequent flooding.
Over the next three years, the programme aims to create lasting impact—bringing the benefits of quality education to around 400,000 children across the Philippines.
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