Genoa, March 23, 2018- As part of the collaboration between Costa Group and Ships of Hope announced in 2017, the volunteer program organized jointly by both entities becomes a reality with the embarkation of the first crew member of the Esperanza de África on the Costa neoRomantica.
Rodrigo Souza Fraga, a 38-year-old Spaniard, has embarked as Third Officer to gain maritime experience. Reporting to the ship's Officer of the Watch, Rodrigo serves as a member of the bridge staff responsible for navigation and surveillance.
Souza is Second Officer on the Esperanza de África (Savings of Africa), the world's largest non-governmental hospital ship, which provides free surgeries and dental treatment to patients with urgent medical needs. The ship has over 400 volunteers from more than 40 countries. The Esperanza offers its surgical expertise for 10 months in each African port, moving to new destinations each year to maximize its stay in each port, so that crew members spend less time at sea than on other ships.
“My time aboard the Costa neoRomantica has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding,” said Rodrigo Souza Fraga. “I’m learning many positive aspects of the day-to-day work that can benefit Naves de Esperanza. What has impressed me most is how well-trained everyone is, and I know that at the end of these four months, I’ll have the opportunity to upgrade my Officer’s license. Furthermore, spending so much time at sea is helping me hone my navigation skills.”.
This volunteer program is just one of the activities that Costa Group and Naves de Esperanza agreed upon as part of their collaboration. The cruise line continues to raise awareness among guests traveling aboard its fleet about Naves de Esperanza and its activities. Furthermore, to ensure immediate support, Costa Group has already donated €100,000 to Naves de Esperanza.
