CMA CGM Foundation launches its first major operation in Africa: Containers of Hope
The CMA CGM Corporate Foundation takes action for Africa with the launch of its first major humanitarian transport operation, alongside Action contre la Faim and Médecins Sans Frontières, the French shipping company press release said.
Aware of the humanitarian and social challenges facing many African countries, the CMA CGM Corporate Foundation has decided in 2012 to put CMA CGM’s expertise at the service of these two big French NGOs (non-governmental organizations), Action contre la Faim (ACF) /Action Against Hunger and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) / Doctors Without Borders.
For a year, as part of the Containers of Hope (Conteneurs d’Espoir) operation, the CMA CGM Group, which has a strong presence in Africa (with over 70 agencies in 37 African countries), will carry a hundred 20-foot containers mainly from France and destined for programs run by these two NGOs in countries like Somalia, the Central African Republic, Liberia and Congo-Brazzaville.
In total, nearly 1,000 tons of humanitarian aid – in particular food, nutritional supplements, medicine, and sanitation & hygiene equipment – will be sent to fight child malnutrition, provide access to water and meet basic needs of the most vulnerable in areas of conflict, or where sanitation and humanitarian risks are high.
The next sailing is from the port of Le Havre on 11 October 2012. The HS Discoverer will be carrying a container of hydraulic equipment for ACF projects in Liberia where the goal is to dig wells, build latrines and treat water for some 3,500 people in the Lofa region.
A ceremony on 25 October, attended by Mrs Naïla Saadé, President of the CMA CGM Foundation, François Danel, Managing Director of ACF and Filipe Ribeiro, Managing Director of MSF, will officially launch the Containers of Hope operation.
The first countries to benefit from this operation are Somalia, Kenya, Liberia and Congo-Brazzaville.
About the CMA CGM Foundation
The CMA CGM Corporate Foundation was set up in 2005 to accompany projects intended for children. With Naïla Saadé as its president, it operates mainly in France’s Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur (PACA) region and Lebanon, where it aims to: improve the everyday lives of sick children, promote equal opportunities for underprivileged youths, and encourage the personal development of children with disabilities.
Since its creation, the Foundation has awarded more than 60 grants to such projects. Every year it also selects two associations, one French and the other Lebanese, to receive the Foundation Prize.
About CMA CGM
Founded in 1978 by Jacques R. Saadé, CMA CGM is now the world’s third largest container shipping group and number one in France.
A family-run company based on strong human values with its headquarters in Marseille (France), CMA CGM has over 650 offices and agencies in some 150 countries. The Group operates more than 170 regular shipping lines servicing 400 ports all over the world. It currently employs more than 17,000 people worldwide. It has exceptional logistics capabilities which are regularly made available to humanitarian causes.
