On 21st November 2019 at the events’ hall of PPA S.A. took place the ceremony for the establishment of the cooperation between the COSCO SHIPPING Charity Foundation and the Hellenic Red Cross, in the presence of the Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy Mr. Yiannis Plakiotakis, Members of the Parliament of A and B Piraeus, representatives of local authorities and other institutions.

The Hellenic Red Cross and the COSCO SHIPPING Charity Foundation are cooperating and implementing the “Children Included” program for the support of 2,180 children in low-income families, facing the social exclusion.

The purpose of this collaboration is to support pupils aged 6 to 18 in Primary and Secondary Education, aiming at improving the children’s individual and social skills, boosting their self-confidence and self-esteem, as well as developing cooperative spirit and teamwork.

Specifically, pupils in the region of Piraeus will receive 80 scholarships and in addition, 30 educational and creative activities will be implemented targeted at 2,100 primary and high school pupils in the neighboring municipalities of Piraeus and Athens as well, in collaboration with the school structures. The actions will focus on innovation, sport, environment and culture and will be proposed by the schools themselves. The selection will be based on specific criteria that the proposals submitted must meet. The total cost of the programs amounts to € 500,000.

As the Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy, Mr. Yiannis Plakiotakis stated: “COSCO SHIPPING’s investments are of great importance for the local and national economy. Today there is a positive action towards local communities showing that COSCO SHIPPING understands the local sensitivities and this is an important step forward. We hope that such initiatives will be imitated”.

As the Chairman of PPA S.A. Yu Zenggang, representing COSCO SHIPPING Group, stated: “COSCO SHIPPING’s investment in Piraeus port is not only targeted at record-breaking throughput and improvement of its financial results. We aim that the port of Piraeus becomes a bridge of friendship between Greece and China and a powerful factor of social contribution to the wider region”.

As the President of the Hellenic Red Cross Mr. Antonios Avgerinos stated: “With the signing of the Memorandum, we have the opportunity to implement a major humanitarian and voluntary project that realizes the basic and fundamental principles of our action. We warmly thank the COSCO SHIPPING Charity Foundation for their confidence in the Hellenic Red Cross. ”

It is noted that the COSCO SHIPPING Charity Foundation financially supported the Greek Paralympic Committee for the period 2018-2019, in order to assist many athletes with disabilities to fulfill their dream and participate in the Winter Olympics in 2022.

The COSCO SHIPPING Charity Foundation is a non-profit charity institution founded and funded by COSCO SHIPPING Group in October 2005 with the approval of the China State Council. Since its foundation, it has operated and implemented more than 500 charities and donations amounting to 602 million RMB. The foundation has received many honorary awards, such as the “China Charity Award” and the “Excellent Transparent Charity Organization”. It is noted that COSCO SHIPPING Group owns the majority stake and the management of Piraeus Port Authority S.A.

The Hellenic Red Cross was founded on June 10th, 1877. From the moment of its establishment it was recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross and today is a part of the “family” of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It is the biggest Humanitarian Organization in Greece with a complex project based on voluntary activity and immediate response of citizens. It is always mobilized in order to alleviate human suffering in times of war and peace, supporting injured, sick, refugees, elderly people, people with financial difficulties and people from every vulnerable group of the population. Its action is linked with vigilance, solidarity and altruism and is synonymous with charitable giving and selflessness.