Save the Children President HRH Princess Anne Received Briefing on P&O Cruises’ Pacific Partnership in Vanuatu

January 5, 2015 /3BL Media/ - Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, the international president of Save the Children, today received a briefing in Vanuatu on the P&O Pacific Partnership which is helping to fund vital health and education projects for island communities. 

Receiving a royal reception with the entire village of Siviri turning out to meet her, Princess Anne took the opportunity to see how programs such as the P&O Pacific Partnership with Save the Children are benefiting locals. 

Established nearly two years ago, the P&O Pacific Partnership with Save the Children, in which the cruise line’s guests have contributed more than $500,000, has already funded the construction of two kindergartens and an aid post. 

The biggest project to date, a $270,000 dispensary on Aneityum, located in the most southern chain of Vanuatu’s islands, is underway and will provide a range of health services for the local community. 

In Vila today to update Princess Anne on the progress of the P&O Pacific Partnership, Carnival Australia Corporate Communications Manager David Jones said it was a thrill to see the whole village turn out to greet Her Royal Highness including excited local children who will be the beneficiaries of Save the Children projects in the years to come. 

To mark the occasion, Mr Jones presented Princess Anne with some handmade blankets and a Born to Knit kit which passengers can purchase onboard to knit woollen squares that are fashioned into blankets for newborn babies at the Vila Central Hospital. The blankets presented to Princess Anne will be part of the next shipment of blankets delivered to the hospital. 

“With such enormous growth in cruising in the region in recent years, P&O Cruises made a commitment to engage in sustainable cruise tourism to protect environments and cultures in this special part of the world,” Mr Jones said. 

“The P&O Pacific Partnership with Save the Children is very close to our hearts but even more importantly it has been embraced by our passengers. Our guests often made it clear that they wanted to help the island communities who effectively welcome them to their homes. 

“As a result of the partnership, each adult guest contributes a dollar through their onboard accounts and we have seen this fund grow quite quickly to more than half a million dollars. 

“P&O Cruises values its association with Save the Children and the way it has helped us to honour our commitment to the people of the South Pacific.” 

The P&O Pacific Partnership is part of Carnival Australia’s ongoing charity program, Carnival Cares, which also supports Lifeline Australia.