World Children's Day: Emirates spotlights the work of its foundation partners in improving the welfa

On World Children's Day, the Emirates Airline Foundation and its NGO partners share their hopes for improving the welfare of disadvantaged children around the world, and speak on projects that provide children with safe shelter, basic necessities such as food and medical services, and access to opportunities through education and skills training.

Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline and Chairman of the Emirates Airline Foundation said: In the 18 years since its establishment, the Foundation has been helping to channel the generous donations of our passengers and employees towards projects focussed on improving the welfare of children in need.

The Foundation currently supports 19 projects in 12 countries around the world, and we would love to do more. Children are our world's collective hope for the future, and they deserve every dignity and opportunity.

Some of the organisations and projects supported by the Foundation in Africa include: the facilitation of travel for medical missions in Zambia such as the Mission Bambini Foundation's paediatric cardiac surgery mission from Italy and Spain, and theoretical and practical training for local medical professionals that resulted in 47 patient consultations and screening, and 23 surgical procedure.

In Zimbabwe the St Marcellin Children's Village provides housing for over 70 orphaned and homeless children, many of whom have special needs including physical disabilities, blindness and HIV. The support from the Foundation goes towards the annual running costs of the centre as well as for educational programmes that extend to cover special instruction for the children with disabilities.

In Kenya the Little Prince Nursery and School provides nursery and primary education for over 400 underprivileged children from the Kibera slums; the Virlanie Foundation in the Philippines which helps provide housing and protection for 42 marginalised children; and the Italian NGO Emergenza Sorrisi which sent medical volunteers to perform life changing plastic surgeries for over 100 children last year.

In South Africa, Singakwenza, which works to build sustainable early childhood programmes in economically disadvantaged communities, trained over 1,400
parents, caregivers and educators last year; and in India, IMMPACT provides education through community-based learning centers to 3,000 girls each year who come from underprivileged families mostly in rural areas that have little or no access to
schools.

Watch their video message here.

The Emirates Airline Foundation is a non-profit charity organisation, made up of volunteer employees and friends of the Emirates Group, and managed under the patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saaed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group.

Through partnerships with NGOs and community groups, the Foundation aims to improve the quality of life for children, regardless of geographical, political or religious boundaries. The projects supported by the Foundation are located primarily at Emirates' destinations, where the airline's employee volunteers can participate and oversee their management.

To donate, and for more information on the Foundation and its projects visit: www.emiratesairlinefoundation.org



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About the Emirates Airline Foundation

The Emirates Airline Foundation is a non-profit charity organisation which aims to improve the quality of life for children, regardless of geographical, political, or religious boundaries. Focusing particularly on children trapped in extreme poverty, the Foundation, strives to
reduce illness and childhood mortality rates. It provides humanitarian, philanthropic aid and services for children, with minimum administrative
expenses.

The projects, either existing charities or new initiatives, are located primarily at Emirates' destinations where local employee volunteers can participate and oversee their management, along with any assistance provided by local communities. For more info, visit: www.emiratesairlinefoundation.org

For media inquiries, please contact:



Gillian Langmead; Langmead & Baker Ltd

Cell: +260 (979) 060705;

info@langmead.com;

Or visit http://www.theemiratesgroup.com/english/media-kit/media-kit.aspx