Education is one of the most significant engines for societal development, laying a strong foundation for economic empowerment. To support India’s initiatives of making Education accessible to its children, Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has donated essential supplies and limited-edition, handcrafted backpacks from its ‘Aircraft by Emirates’ collection to a non-profit organisation in India. 

India is reforming its education system and continuously improving its infrastructure and resources to provide equal opportunities to children across the country. To support their efforts in rolling out access to Education for underprivileged children, Emirates assisted the students of Smile Foundation with their schooling by providing 400 practical, stylish backpacks filled with stationery and learning supplies.

A committee carefully selected the organisation because it supports local communities by providing a nurturing and inspirational space for disadvantaged youths to continue their Education in a safe environment. The institute has a longstanding legacy of helping youth and a particular focus on Education. The initiative reinforces the airline’s commitment to ‘connecting communities’ by building enduring relationships and making meaningful differences in the destinations it serves. 

Mohammad Sarhan, Vice President of Emirates for India, said: “Education is a fundamental right. In line with our support for UN Sustainable Development Goal number 4, focused on quality education, we are dedicated to ensuring that children, regardless of their circumstances, have the resources to learn and create an equitable future for themselves.”

“We are pleased to partner with Smile Foundation, which has been working for over two decades to ensure underprivileged children have the opportunity to progress, setting them on the path for a brighter, more productive tomorrow. The bags from the Aircrafted KIDS collection will support their mission as they are uniquely made and filled with stationery, books, and hygiene items to assist children in their daily tasks and learning. We are proud to share these bags, which are upcycled from materials from our aircraft. They connect children to Emirates’ history while demonstrating a sustainable use of resources.”

Santanu Mishra, Co-founder and Executive Trustee of Smile Foundation, remarked, “Education of children is the key to a future full of potential and is instrumental in nation-building, too. I firmly believe in the philosophy of civic-driven change, wherein responsible organisations and members of civil society complement governmental efforts. We appreciate Emirates for encouraging our children and our initiatives.”

Smile Foundation handpicked the specific bags they required from the ‘Aircraft by Emirates’ collection, accounting for children of all ages. Emirates Engineering then handmade the backpacks in-house, using materials upcycled from the airline’s iconic A380 and B777 aircraft that underwent refurbishments. 

In addition to the bags, Emirates provided school and hygiene supplies such as pens, pencils, erasers, calculators, notebooks, sanitisers, soaps, other sanitary items, and more. The airline also purchased books that blend culturally rich stories with interactive learning opportunities. The books can be swapped and discussed amongst the students, further developing their understanding of the material.

The airline plans to recover and repurpose over 50,000 kg of materials from 191 aircraft scheduled for an interior cabin retrofit. In addition to the donations made in India, Emirates provided organisations in Bangladesh and Pakistan with bags, bringing the total donation to 700 in Asia alone after donating 1,239 in Africa in the previous months.

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