Monaco’s ‘Office des Timbres’ Celebrates 5th Anniversary of Princess Charlene’s Foundation

The “Office des Timbres” (Office of Stamps) of Monaco has celebrated the 5th anniversary of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation by releasing two special stamps for sale.

The two stamps are copies of photos of former South African Olympic swimmer, H.S.H. Princess Charlene, in action for Her Foundation.

The photo on the 0,71€ face value represents a view of the “South Africa – Monaco Rugby Exchange”, which takes place as part of the Saint Devote Rugby Tournament and welcomes young South African children in Monaco.

The one on the 0,85 € face value was taken in Corsica during a Water Safety day.

The missions of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation are to raise public awareness about the dangers of water, teach children preventive measures and teach them to swim.

Its primary objective is to save lives by putting an end to drowning.

The World Health Organization estimates that in the world one person dies of drowning every 85 seconds. In South Africa it is the second leading cause of accidental death after road accidents.

Children under the age of 5 are the most affected, more than half the victims are under the age of 25.

When a drowning is non-fatal, often the victim is left with severe aftereffects, in particular neurological.

A number of “Learn to Swim” and “Water Safety” programmes have been implemented around the world in order to fight against this scourge.

The Foundation’s actions are also based on the values of sport such as discipline, self-respect and respect for others, determination and team spirit.

The “Sport and Education” programme uses sporting activities as tools to contribute to the well-being and development for all children no matter their origin or circumstances.

From December 2012 through to December 2016 more than 307,000 people, mainly children, benefited from these three programmes in 30 countries.  Within South Africa, the Foundation taught 27,242 essential water safety skills and 2,507 children to swim.

The two stamps are on sale at the “Office des Timbres”, the “Musée des Timbres et des Monnaies”, the post offices and philatelic counters of the Principality, the Monaco stamp-dealers as well as the “Musée de la Poste” and the “Carré d’Encre” in Paris, France.

Princess Charlene (nee Wittstock) has been visiting South Africa with her Foundation – on Friday she attended the Gugulesizwe Primary School in Benoni, which is where she used to live (after moving from Zimbabwe, where she was born).

The Princess told local reporters that she can’t wait for her twins – Jacques and Gabriella – to visit South Africa. “I can’t wait for them to be introduced to Africa,” she said. “I am African and this is my heritage. It will always be. It’s in my heart and in my veins.”