Emirates donates recycled aircraft bags to support education in Pakistan

KARACHI: Emirates, the international airline, has donated 107 of its ‘Aircrafted KIDS by Emirates’ special edition backpacks to SOS Children’s Villages in Lahore, supporting early education initiatives in Pakistan. The donation, comprising handcrafted backpacks made from upcycled aircraft materials and filled with essential school and hygiene supplies, aims to bolster educational access for disadvantaged children, a statement said on Saturday.

The airline’s contribution aligns with Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to improve its education infrastructure and provide equal opportunities. Emirates selected SOS Children’s Villages, which provides a nurturing environment for financially vulnerable youth, to receive the backpacks. The initiative underscores Emirates’ commitment to “connecting communities” and supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 4, which focuses on quality education.

Vice President, Pakistan for Emirates Mohammed Al Nahari Alhashmi said the airline’s pleasure in collaborating with SOS Children’s Villages, highlighting the organisation’s dedication to providing safe homes and educational opportunities for orphaned and abandoned children. The backpacks, made from recycled materials from refurbished A380 and B777 aircraft, contained stationery, books and hygiene items.

National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Pakistan Saba Faisal expressed gratitude for Emirates’ support, emphasising the positive impact on the children’s educational development. She noted the children’s delight in receiving the bags and meeting the Emirates team.

The ‘Aircrafted KIDS by Emirates’ collection utilises upcycled materials from aircraft refurbishments, promoting sustainability. In addition to the bags, Emirates provided essential supplies such as pens, notebooks, and hygiene products, as well as culturally relevant educational books.

Emirates’ ‘Aircrafted’ programme aims to repurpose over 50,000 kg of materials from 191 aircraft undergoing cabin retrofits. The airline has also donated bags to organisations in Bangladesh and India, bringing the total in Asia to 700 units. This follows a previous donation of 1,239 bags in Africa.