Les Enfants de Frankie: latest round of initiatives supporting kids in need

06/11/2024

Over the past two weeks, local charity Les Enfants de Frankie has been involved in a series of initiatives to support children in need, particularly those facing illness or social challenges.

On 23rd October, the association organised a special event for 30 children from hospitals in Marseille. The children participated in a guided tour of Monaco’s ‘Rock’ and the Oceanographic Museum, followed by the ceremonial changing of the guard at the Prince’s Palace.

The next day, Les Enfants de Frankie inaugurated a new seven-seater vehicle in Cagnes-sur-Mer, a project made possible by a €23,000 donation. This vehicle will be used by a local organisation for group outings for families.

In another recent initiative, the charity arranged an outing for children to the Luc circuit, where they could participate in driving experiences with amateur and professional rally drivers. The event featured meet-and-greets with famous YouTubers, autograph sessions, and a stunt demonstration.

See more: Les Enfants de Frankie’s Christmas ornament sale marks 20 years of Red Nose Day in Monaco

Since the start of 2024, the charity, supported by its donors, has assisted 14 healthcare and social organisations across the Alpes-Maritimes, with funding totalling over €75,000. These funds have supported various projects, including cultural mini-breaks, theatrical activities, specialised tablets for non-verbal children, electric bikes, school trips for visually impaired children, and renovating rooms in multiple healthcare facilities.

Looking ahead, Les Enfants de Frankie is preparing for its annual Christmas event. On 8th December, more than 1,500 children from Monaco and the Alpes-Maritimes are expected to attend a festive gathering where they will watch a performance by Matisse Jones, a semi-finalist of Voice Kids 2023, along with a ventriloquist, dancers, and other entertainers.

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

Photo source: Les Enfants de Frankie

MaConsigne recycling initiative looking for new face to front campaign

by: Elsa Carpenter

06/11/2024

The Monaco Government is looking for a new spokesperson for the MaConsigne recycling scheme, which encourages residents and visitors to the Principality to ditch single-use takeaway containers in favour of more durable, reusable items.

After it was calculated that around two million throwaway take-out boxes were used in Monaco in 2000, the government decided to take action to reduce this massive amount of waste, launching the MaConsigne project, an initiative that provides partnered food and beverage outlets with branded reusable containers.

The scheme is app-based. Customers sign up on the MaConsigne app, add their bank details and share a unique QR code with any of the partnered companies when ordering their meal. A €7 “consigne”, or deposit in English, is charged to the customer’s account, allowing them to enjoy their meal served in a glass MaConsigne container.

Once finished, all the customer has to do is deposit the empty containers at one of the 20 dedicated drop-off points around the Principality within 14 days. The MaConsigne team takes care of the rest: collecting used items, cleaning them and returning them to the initiative’s partners. The €7 charge is then refunded to the customer.

For restaurants and food outlets, there is a separate section on the app. Once signed up to the scheme, the company can request any number of containers. If a customer requests the MaConsigne service, the outlet simply scans the QR code of a container and that of the customer.

More than a dozen local addresses have signed up to be a part of this forward-thinking, zero-waste project, including Scala Green Café, Ici Salad Bar, Maison Dubernet, Mada One, Maison Mer, Woo, Pasta Versace, Bottega Renzini, MC by Kodera, Maison des Pâtes, Tavolo, Formia and Le Snack.

New campaign

Now, the Monaco Government is looking for a spokesperson to front a new campaign promoting the scheme. The ideal candidate will be an older person who is “sensitive to eco-responsibility values” and keen to champion an environmental message.

The future face of the scheme will appear in a video commercial aired on Monaco Info and various official social media channels, as well as participate in awareness projects in partnership with the Principality’s Mission for Energy Transition.

To submit an application, interested parties should send a photo to Léa Calori at the Monaco Communications Department via email at lcalori@gouv.mc or by post: Léa Calori, Direction de la Communication, 10 bis Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco.

A shortlist of candidates will be invited to the Mission for Energy Transition offices on Friday, 22nd November, for test shots.

For more information about the MaConsigne scheme, click here.

Read related:

MonaBike rolls out upgraded e-bikes with new features

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

Photo source: MaConsigne, Facebook

‘Disney in Concert: Around the World’ coming to Monaco in 2025

by: Stephanie Horsman

06/11/2024

The new live-action ‘Disney in Concert: Around the World’ show, featuring the franchise’s most iconic hits and characters, is coming to the Grimaldi Forum Monaco in late 2025. Here are all the details.

The all-new ‘Disney in Concert: Around the World’ live-action and musical concept, designed as an immersive concert experience, promises to transport audiences to the sweeping savannahs of The Lion King, plunge them into the enchanting Nordic forests of Frozen, and set a course through the lush, ocean-bound lands of Moana and the winding rivers of Pocahontas. The show will bring to life beloved scenes and songs from Disney classics in a new way, combining live orchestration, vocals, and dance with visual storytelling.

Ahead of a tour throughout France, including stops in Marseille and Toulon, ‘Disney in Concert: Around the World’ will be visiting the Principality of Monaco for one special performance on 22nd October at 2.30pm in the Grimaldi Forum’s Salle des Princes.

The show will feature Disney’s timeless themes of love, courage, and the search for independence through the music and characters of Aladdin, Mulan, Peter Pan, Encanto, and many others, from Simba and Moana to Elsa and Anna. To add to the experience, excerpts from each of these films and many others will play on a giant HD screen, drawing viewers into the rich worlds Disney has crafted over the years. The Monaco show will be performed in French.

To book tickets for this can’t-miss event, click here. Prices start at €39 for adults and €31 for children.

Read related:

Elf The Musical set to bring Christmas magic to Monaco this November

Photo credit: Disney Concerts

Monaco reacts to Donald Trump’s 2024 US Presidential Election win

by: Niki Borisova

06/11/2024

Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 United States Presidential Election has sparked a range of emotions in Monaco. From elation to shock, Monaco Life was there to gauge the reaction from both sides of the political spectrum.

On Wednesday 6th November, Donald Trump emerged victorious in what was one of the most tumultuous and competitive election seasons in history, a time that included two assassination attempts targeting Trump and a shift to a new Democratic nominee just a month before the party’s convention.

Securing the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency, Trump has now secured his position as the 47th President of the United States, making him the first former President to return to the White House since 1892.

Monaco Life’s Niki Borisova was on the ground at the Wednesday morning election results reveal event at Marius Monaco, organised by the Monaco USA association, to gauge the mood and gather opinions from those following this crucial election.

With Trump taking a clear lead, those who had gathered early Wednesday were either celebrating or commiserating over the outcome. Winning on a platform that included plans to initiate the largest deportation operation in US history, direct the Justice Department to target political adversaries, significantly increase the use of tariffs to boost the economy, and reinstate a zero-sum foreign policy approach that could disrupt long-established alliances, including the NATO agreement, reactions this morning unsurprisingly ranged from optimism to disappointment.

“I feel happy today as I think this is a testament to what Americans want: we want closed borders, inflation down, we want to get out of the wars…. We want to get back to the basic rules of civility,” Pamela told Monaco Life.

*Monaco USA organised two major events for the US election. Photo credit: Lisa DeRea Photography*

Another attendee, Merrily, an American who has lived in Monaco for 40 years, voiced a different sentiment: “I am stunned today. I am worried for Europe and the United States. My hopes to see a progressive future have been shattered.”

Lisa revealed a similar opinion, stating, “I am sad for my fellow Americans. All I can say is that I am scared. Trump talks about what he is going to do to people, whereas Kamala talked about what she will do for people. It’s a sombre day for us all.”

Alejandra expressed an optimistic view, telling Monaco Life, “America is a very strong country, you need someone who people respect. The people have spoken, so today is a celebration.”

One surprising aspect of Trump’s presidential victory was his success in securing the younger male and hispanic male votes.

“Trump brings the leadership and vision that America needs right now,” a male attendee told Monaco Life. “With his policies, I believe he’ll be able to steer the country back to its roots of economic growth and global strength.”

*Monaco USA organised a fun event on Tuesday night at La Rascasse. Photo credit: Lisa DeRea Photography*

It was a markedly lighter mood on Tuesday night at La Rascasse, where the Monaco USA association had organised a US Presidential Election Night event, featuring an interactive voting box where guests could cast their own “votes” for president. It was Kamala Harris who claimed victory in that informal poll.

“One of the biggest privileges of being American is that our vote is our business,” Annette Anderson, Executive Director of the Monaco USA assocation, told Monaco Life.

As the future of Trump was secured, world and political leaders began to congratulate the 77-year-old on his win.

“I warmly congratulate Donald J. Trump,” shared Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, on social media. “The EU and the US are more than just allies. We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens. Let us work together on a transatlantic partnership that continues to deliver for our citizens.”

Written by Niki Borisova with contribution by Cassandra Tanti

MonacoTech and CFM Indosuez partner up to boost investment access for start-ups

by: Stephanie Horsman

06/11/2024

Start-up incubator MonacoTech and wealth management firm CFM Indosuez are joining forces to provide entrepreneurs based in Monaco with access to a broader network of investment opportunities through the Indosuez Group’s StartUp Connections platform.

The StartUp Connections platform, created by the Indosuez Innovation Lab, is a digital hub that facilitates targeted introductions between investors and entrepreneurs by offering private clients the opportunity to connect with more than 100 international start-ups seeking investment.

“The virtuous circle that we aim to create through this platform is a real asset for both our investor clients and the start-ups listed,” says Dominique Guignard, Head of Development and Corporate Finance at CFM Indosuez.

The platform has already helped foster over 250 connections between investors and start-ups since its launch in France and is now expanding into the Principality thanks to a new collaboration between MonacoTech and CFM Indosuez.

Only start-ups that pass a rigorous selection process led by MonacoTech and CFM Indosuez will gain access to the platform. Several start-ups have already been selected to connect with the Indosuez team, with the goal of integrating them into the platform. These include young businesses in sectors such as biotech, medtech, greentech and bluetech.

See more: MonacoTech launches new call for bold start-up projects

“StartUp Connections is a fantastic opportunity for MonacoTech entrepreneurs,” says Sandrine Sauval-Chanteloube, Director of MonacoTech. “This platform enhances the resources we provide to start-ups as part of their fundraising process, giving them additional leverage to build relationships with investors.”

Read related:

Monaco among key European locations to benefit from Indosuez’s StartUp Connections platform

Left to right in photo: Pierre Guisez, Chief Digital Officer of CFM Indosuez; Sandrine Sauval-Chanteloube, Director of Monaco Tech; Benoit Bourdin, Venture Market Manager of the Indosuez Group; and Matthieu Gabard, Program Manager at Monaco Tech. Photo credit: MonacoTech

Vendée Globe: Boris Herrmann and Malizia-Seaexplorer to compete under Monaco flag

by: Stephanie Horsman

06/11/2024

In just a few days, Boris Herrmann will once again embark on the Vendée Globe, a challenging solo and non-stop race around the world. The veteran sailor, who is arguably one of the event’s top contenders, will captain the Malizia-Seaexplorer, a high-tech yacht backed by the Yacht Club de Monaco. As well as trying to better his fifth-place finish in the 2020/21 edition, Herrmann will be collecting a range of scientific data as he travels along the epic route.

The 10th Vendée Globe is scheduled to begin on 10th November and competitors have already started to gather in the French coastal town of Les Sables-d’Olonne, which will be the departing point for the sailors taking on this incredible 24,300-nautical-mile solo race around the world.

Since its inception in 1989, the race has tested the skills and endurance of the world’s most intrepid sailors, among them Boris Herrmann, a German national with ties to the Principality of Monaco, who finished in fifth place in the 2020/21 event.

Now, he is poised and ready to take on Vendée Globe for the second time in his career and he will be at the helm of the Monaco Yacht Club-based IMOCA Malizia-Seaexplorer, the first boat developed under his own management, for this landmark race.

ENVIRONMENTAL ANGLE

Beyond the intense competition, the German captain will also take part in an environmental scientific project as he travels the epic route. Funded by the Vendée Globe Endowment Fund of which Prince Albert II of Monaco is Honorary President, Herrmann will conduct research by collecting samples from little-traveled parts of the Southern Ocean.

“The sea is deeply rooted in the DNA of the Principality of Monaco,” says Prince Albert II. “Following in the footsteps of Prince Albert I, we are perpetuating this unique relationship between Monaco and the ocean. Through exceptional adventures such as the one that Boris Herrmann is about to embark on with boldness and courage, we are also spreading my Foundation’s message in favor of the preservation of the oceans to remind us of the importance of protecting this universal heritage.”

Herrmann’s vessel has been equipped with instruments that will allow him to measure oceanic conditions such as salinity, temperature, oxygen levels and CO2 content. It has also been fitted with a high-tech weather buoy to measure atmospheric pressure, surface currents and temperature.

NEW BOAT FOR 2024/25 RACE

The 60-foot Malizia-Seaexplorer was launched in 2022 and has been designed to be both seaworthy and comfortable. With a sail area of 270m² upwind and 500m² downwind, the yacht has already proven itself in previous global races and is considered a strong contender in this year’s competition.

Pierre Casiraghi, the Vice-President of the Yacht Club de Monaco and the co-founder of Team Malizia alongside Herrmann, has expressed his utmost confidence in the yacht, saying, “We’ve designed a boat capable of maintaining high average speeds in difficult sea conditions. We chose softer hull lines and a curved bow while reinforcing the robustness of the boat and rethinking both the ergonomics and living area.”

Read related:

Boris Herrmann’s message to young people on climate change: “Be curious and drive innovation”

In picture: Prince Albert II of Monaco with members of Team Malizia, Boris Herrmann (second from right) and Pierre Casiraghi (far right)

Photo credit: Yacht Club de Monaco

Day: 6 November 2024

Les Enfants de Frankie: latest round of initiatives supporting kids in need