Emirates Supports Early Education in Zambia with Donation of Special Edition Backpacks
Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has reinforced its commitment to education and community development with a generous donation of 464 handcrafted ‘Aircrafted KIDS by Emirates’ backpacks and essential school supplies to two non-profit organisations in Zambia: Kucetekela Foundation and Alliance for Children Everywhere (ACE).
Understanding the critical role education plays in shaping the future, Emirates aims to support financially disadvantaged students by providing them with practical and stylish backpacks made from upcycled aircraft materials, along with essential stationery. This initiative aligns with the airline’s mission to ‘connect communities’ and create lasting social impact in the regions it serves.
Omar Bushlaibi, Country Manager, Zambia, Emirates, highlighted the airline’s dedication to educational empowerment, stating: “Education, much like travel, broadens the mind and brings immeasurable value to society. By supporting ACE Zambia and Kucetekela Foundation, we are not just donating school supplies but also offering a piece of Emirates’ history with our upcycled backpacks. Emirates has been committed to Zambia since our first flight in 2012, and we continue to invest in initiatives that enrich the communities we serve.”
To tailor the support to the unique needs of students, Kucetekela Foundation and ACE Zambia placed orders for a variety of backpacks from the ‘Aircrafted by Emirates’ collection, ensuring suitability for different age groups. These backpacks, meticulously handcrafted by Emirates Engineering, were created using upcycled materials from the airline’s renowned A380 and 777 aircraft.
Simasiku Mukena, General Manager at Kucetekela Foundation, expressed gratitude, saying, “We received a total of 84 backpacks from Emirates, and our students were overjoyed. This generous gesture will leave a lasting impact on our organisation.”
Beyond backpacks, Emirates donated essential school supplies such as pens, pencils, erasers, calculators, and notebooks. The airline also purchased culturally enriching books from local authors, including titles from Kulanda House and Aliness Phiri, to foster a love for reading among students.
Elarm Chalusa, Head Teacher at Jana Secondary School under ACE, emphasized the significance of the donation, stating, “Emirates has provided us with a wonderful gift that will greatly benefit our students. Our goal is to instill a strong reading culture, and the books donated will play a crucial role in achieving that.”
The Emirates team in Lusaka personally visited both organisations to deliver the backpacks and interact with the students, strengthening the bond between the airline and Zambia’s future leaders.
Through the Emirates Airline Foundation, the airline has a longstanding history of supporting children’s welfare programmes. The ‘Aircrafted KIDS by Emirates’ initiative is part of Emirates’ broader sustainability efforts, with over 50,000 kg of materials from 191 aircraft undergoing cabin retrofitting being repurposed.
Zambia is among several African countries benefiting from this initiative, with additional donations made in Zimbabwe and Ethiopia, bringing the total number of backpacks distributed across Africa to 1,239, with further donations planned in Asia.
