Thanks to customer donations, the Emirates Airline Foundation positively impacted the lives and livelihoods of 768 people living in some of the most impoverished communities across Kenya.
The Foundation supported Little Prince Primary School in Kibera, Alfajiri Street Kids Art in Pangani, Starehe Boys’ Centre and School in Kamukunji and Agape Community Centre in Kikuyu County in different capacities ranging from students feeding programs, full bursaries for students to the facilitation of the institutions annual running costs.
The Foundation also supported the entire travel, logistics, and free baggage allowance of three medical missions that brought in 36 medical practitioners to conduct free life-saving surgeries, consultations, and screenings at the Tenwek Hospital in Bomet County. During their mission, the practitioners conducted 38 pediatric cardiac surgeries and trained 20 medical professionals at the hospital.
In partnership with Engineers without Borders, the Emirates Airline Foundation flew in one engineering mission that successfully completed a water supply project at the Watema Community in Makueni Country benefiting residents and students of the Watema Community Early Bird School
Globally, the Foundation used a staggering 132 million Skywards Miles to positively impact the lives and livelihoods of more than 90,000 people, mainly children, living in some of the most impoverished communities worldwide. In the same period – from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 – the Foundation also donated more than AED 6.5 million (Kshs 187.5 million) to 22 projects in 12 countries.
The Foundation, a vital heartbeat of the airline established in 2003, routinely supports 32 projects and non-government organizations (NGOs) in 18 countries worldwide through customer donations, corporate sponsorships and Emirates funds. Support ranges from absorbing all annual running expenses and building infrastructure to running feeding and medical programs, paying salaries, and covering other ad hoc expenses.
Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airlines and Chairman of the Emirates Airline Foundation said: “Emirates always looks for meaningful ways in which we can contribute to the local and global communities we serve, whether by sponsoring world-class sports and cultural events, supporting trade and tourism, or community causes. The Emirates Airline Foundation is our passion project, and we work with like-minded partners and NGOs globally who aim to reach out to the neglected, ignored and the poorest communities on the planet.
“Rather than just donating food to feed the hungry, the Foundation provides children with holistic care – including food, clothing, shelter, medical support, and education – that transforms lives, creates livelihoods, helps sustain communities, and leads to a fairer, more just world. And we are helping our customers connect to these communities when they donate funds or their Skywards Miles. Everyone is welcome to join us on this journey.”
In 2018, the Foundation used 132 million donated Skywards Miles to support travel for 35 NGOs on more than 50 medical missions; four NGOs on five engineering missions; and one NGO on two educational missions. The top five countries with the largest beneficiaries were: Bangladesh – more than 66,000 people; South Africa – around 7,900; Uganda – around 5,500; Tanzania – around 2,900; and Ghana – 2,000.
