Foundation for seafarers
Valparaíso, with the presence of civil authorities, the Chilean Navy, and representatives of various trade and business groups related to maritime and shipping activities.
On the occasion, the corporate image, objectives and mission of the Foundation were presented, in addition to confirming that in the coming days the Mascarona “Wellness Center” will open its doors, located on the 10th floor of the Los Héroes building, on Calle Blanco of Valparaíso, a space that allows to accommodate seafarers and the personnel in charge of managing their needs, with a view to empowering the maritime sector and complying with the duties assumed in a guided manner, under international standards of organizations recognized worldwide in The matter.
At the end of the event, the Maritime Governor of Valparaíso, Captain Daniel González, pointed out that “this foundation (Mascarona) comes to reaffirm the values and meaning of the MLC Agreement, which precisely seeks to improve the quality of life and relations employment of crew members embarked on both national and foreign ships. What is sought is to humanize work on board, which does not take place in a natural human environment. We are made to work on land, therefore, embarking already has a special condition”.
Likewise, the president of the Association of Women in the Shipping Industry and International Trade (Wista) Chile, Alejandra Canales, said that “there are still few women in relevant positions in the (maritime shipping) industry, while only 2 % of the embarked crew are women, so we still have a long way to go. The Mascarona Foundation and its president Raquel Meza represent the crews, the support for the crews, which is very important. But also, the fact that she is a woman makes us proud”.
Meanwhile, the founder and president of the Mascarona Foundation, Raquel Meza, indicated that “the main function (of the Foundation) is to take care of our essential resource, which is seafarers. And what we will do is bring the land a little closer to the sea. The pandemic made these people visible, how important their work is (in maritime trade), so we think it is necessary to reward them with well-being, giving them tools, a friendly resting place for them, waiting for them when they arrive from their navigation, share a moment from the human point of view”.