Naves de Esperanza and Costa Group have officially launched the letter of intent they recently signed. The collaboration aims to develop synergies in various fields to support Naves de Esperanza's achievements. As part of this agreement, Costa Group will undertake specific activities in the following areas:
- To publicize the work of Ships of Hope on board the 26 ships of the Costa Group (Costa Cruises, Costa Asia, AIDA Cruises) with the aim of raising awareness among its passengers.
- Create a volunteer program for Costa and AIDA staff and crew on board Ships of Hope vessels .
- To offer officers and engineers of Ships of Hope the opportunity to gain nautical experience aboard Costa Group ships.
In addition to the collaboration that will focus on long-term projects, Costa Group has made a donation of 100,000 euros to boost the mission of Ships of Hope, offering hope and healing to those who need it most, thus helping to cover the shortcomings of health systems in developing countries.
The NGO Ships of Hope operates the hospital ship Africa's Hope , currently based in Cotonou, Benin, in West Africa. Volunteers from over 40 countries are currently serving aboard this vessel, which began operations in 2007 and was built specifically for the Ships of Hope. It is the world's largest non-governmental hospital ship. This donation will support more than 1,700 life-changing surgical procedures performed by volunteer surgeons on the Africa's Hope while it is docked in Benin.
Michael Thamm, CEO of Costa Group, stated: “ Collaborating with organizations committed to our same goals has always been a key aspect for us. We are delighted to partner with Ships of Hope, which provides invaluable medical services to those who need them most, and where we can make a significant impact .” The agreement will allow selected crew members of the Esperanza de África to work aboard the Costa Group fleet and renew the nautical permits required to operate these ships. In return, Costa Group crew members can apply for a volunteer placement on the Esperanza de África . “ For Costa Group, it is important to create a work environment that allows our employees to participate in volunteer activities. We look forward to sharing our expertise with their crew and, in turn, having the opportunity to learn and grow,” Thamm declared .
Neil Palomba , CEO of Costa Crociere , explained: “ We are delighted to support Ships of Hope. We believe their efforts to save lives and alleviate the suffering of others deserve concrete support. For these same reasons, we created the Costa Crociere Foundation in 2014. Today’s donation and the signing of this letter of intent are the first step in this specific contribution. In addition to raising awareness of their noble initiatives among our guests and employees, I am confident that we will be able to provide a brighter future for an ever-increasing number of people.”
Don Stephens, president and founder of Ships of Hope, emphasized: “We are very grateful for this partnership with Costa Group. This will be a unique agreement involving employees, crew, and passengers to support Ships of Hope and our programs. Together, we will leave a more lasting legacy in the nations we serve.”
In this vein, Ricardo Menzies, president of Ships of Hope Spain, explained: “We are very grateful to Costa Group, a leader in the cruise industry, for continuing to support us by promoting employee volunteering, informing their passengers and the general public about the needs in Africa, and all that can be done about it. This support is fundamental to the efforts we at Ships of Hope make to facilitate surgical operations for many of the world's most vulnerable people.”
