Emirates make big difference to people’s lives through innovative social initiatives

Thanks to customer donations, the Emirates Airline Foundation used a staggering 132 million Skywards Miles last year to positively impact the lives and livelihoods of more than 90,000 people, mainly children, living in some of the most impoverished communities worldwide.

Skywards Milers are redeemable points earned by customers while traveling with Emirates or buying other products or services.

In the same period – from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 – the foundation also donated more than AED 6.5 million to 22 projects in 12 countries, according to a media release.

The foundation supported over 66,000 people in Bangladesh through regular medical missions at remote char areas in North Bengal and in refugee camps.

The foundation, established in 2003, routinely supports 32 projects and NGOs in 18 countries worldwide through customer donations, corporate sponsorships and Emirates funds.

The foundation also appeals to Emirates’ customers to donate Skywards Miles, small change inflight, and funds on its website.

Last year, 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.

Medical missions

Last year, the Foundation supported the entire travel, logistics and free baggage allowance of 676 doctors, nurses and medical staff from NGOs. The medical practitioners travelled from Europe, USA, Canada and Australia to conduct thousands of free life-saving surgeries, consultations and screenings, and also training for local medical staff.

Many of these medical missions were conducted in remote villages and corners of the world, with Bangladesh being an ideal example, the release added.

At the floating Emirates Friendship Hospital, 44,000 people from remote, impoverished char areas of Kurigram and Gaibandha in the northern part of the country received primary and secondary medical care. Similar support and services were extended to over 21,600 refugees.

The Emirates Airline Foundation has been supporting the Emirates Friendship Hospital in Bangladesh since 2008, by covering operational expenses and bringing overseas medical missions to treat a range of illnesses.

In the last financial year, the foundation issued 195 flight tickets to medical missions traveling to Bangladesh from USA, UK, France, Netherlands, Germany, Italy and other countries.

Engineering missions

Engineers Without Borders – three missionsfrom USA and one from Germany – successfully completed water supply and rural electrification projects, installed solar panels and set up computer lab classrooms.

Educational missions

The Foundation positively impacted the lives of more than 10,300 children and 340 teachers when it supported two educational missions – one to South Africa and the other to Tanzania.

Warwick in Africa not only taught children maths and English in secondary schools, but also trained local teachers to benefit children’s learning for the long-term.