The “Adopt a Ship” Programme praised by the European and International Shipping Leaders
Within the framework of the visit of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Secretary General Mr. Kitack Lim and the EU Commissioner of Transport Mrs. Violeta Bulc for the “Maritime Cyprus 2017” international conference, the Cyprus Shipping Chamber organised on the 10 October 2017, a visit at the 21st Elementary School (Kalogeropoulio) in Limassol, to present the innovative educational programme “Adopt a Ship”.
The “Adopt a Ship” Programme was initiated by the Cyprus Shipping Chamber in 2006 with the valuable cooperation of the Cyprus Marine Environment Protection Association (CYMEPA), to bring together the Elementary Schools and Seafarers on board CSC Members ships in order to provide a real world learning experience for elementary school children. It involves assigning to elementary schools’ classrooms a particular vessel each for direct email communication between the children and the crew of the vessel with the aim to inform the children about life onboard, cargoes carried by ships, trading patterns and geography. The Programme runs under the full approval of the Cyprus Ministry of Transport Communications and Works and the Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture.
The Secretary General and the EU Commissioner had the opportunity to watch the programme operation through the students’ eyes and enthusiasm, where the students presented their knowledge about their ship, their communication with the ship crew and messages exchanged. As Mrs. Bulc stated, “I hope that this program will spread and will continue to grow and I think everybody can profit from it, the children, the community and the profession”. Mr. Lim added that “It is a very valid and bright innovative idea. I am hoping that this innovative idea can be expanded to the global industry as a best practice”.
The Chamber's target, is that this pioneering program, which is part of the Chamber's broader effort to inform the new generation of career prospects in the Shipping sector, to be extended to an even larger number of schools in Primary Education.
