CAIRO: Emirates has expanded its Aircrafted KIDS initiative into the Middle East and North Africa region by donating 800 school bags to Egyptian non-profit organisations, Resala and Educate Me. This charitable effort supports children’s education and wellbeing, reaffirming Emirates’ role in connecting communities beyond aviation.
The donation includes handcrafted backpacks and essential school supplies such as pens, geometry sets, and books from local authors. Each bag is part of the ‘Aircrafted by Emirates’ collection, uniquely made from upcycled materials sourced from Emirates’ retired A380 and 777 aircraft — blending sustainability with social impact.
Students from both charities received school kits tailored to their needs. The initiative seeks to break barriers to education by equipping financially disadvantaged students with tools to succeed. Emirates’ local team personally delivered the bags, reinforcing the airline’s four-decade commitment to enriching Egyptian communities.
Abdalla Al Zamani, Emirates’ Country Manager for Egypt, stated, “We believe education empowers the next generation. These handcrafted backpacks offer both practicality and a piece of Emirates’ heritage, supporting students’ learning journey in a meaningful way.”
Resala and Educate Me are renowned for creating inclusive learning environments. Adel AbdelFattah of Resala commended the partnership for helping children in rural areas access better educational resources, while Christine Safwat of Educate Me described the initiative as a catalyst for children to “grow, explore, and imagine new possibilities.”
With additional donations made in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Dhaka, Pakistan, and India, the initiative has distributed over 1,983 bags across Africa and South Asia to date. The programme also contributes to Emirates’ circular economy model, recovering over 50,000 kg of aircraft materials for reuse under the airline’s retrofit programme.
