P&O Cruises starts off the Pacific Partnership kitty with a $50,000 donation to Save the Children. Image: P&O Cruises
	(L-R) Pacific Dawn Cruise Director Lee Oliver and Hotel Director Joshua Dayboll meet locals at the Malapoa Aid Post in Vanuatu.

P&O Cruises Australia has announced a partnership with Save the Children to assist communities in the Pacific Islands.

Dubbed the P&O Pacific Partnership, the cruise line says they have created the program in response to feedback from passengers wanting to help the island communities they sail into.   

Effective immediately, an AUD$1 donation will be added to the onboard account of those 18 years and over, with passengers given the option to have the amount removed when sailing.

“Over time we will see the changes and I think that’s great...to be part of the future of the communities we visit,” Carnival Australia CEO Ann Sherry said.

The donations made will go towards investing in longer term programming for communities, building kindergartens, disaster planning and health services.

“With the support of P&O Cruises and their passengers, children in remote communities in Vanuatu will be able to access pre-school education which is proven to be vital in setting them up for success in life,” Save the Children Australia CEO Suzanne Dvorak said.

“The refurbishment of community health aid clinics and support to our village health workers will ensure that children and their communities are able to receive medical care that every child deserves.”

For those passengers wanting to get even more involved, an onboard knitting program has been launched called ‘Born to Knit, which will produce blankets for newborn babies.

To launch the P&O Pacific Partnership, the cruise line have donated AUD$50,000, which will build a new Kindergarten in the Sanma province.