Education plays a pivotal role in shaping a nation’s future, driving economic growth and societal development. Despite significant strides in educational reforms, access to vital resources remains a major challenge for children and youth in many regions. Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has stepped in to help bridge this gap by donating essential school supplies and exclusive, handcrafted backpacks from its ‘Aircrafted by Emirates’ collection to two Zimbabwean non-profit organizations.

Talal Al Gergawi, Country Manager for Zimbabwe, Emirates, said: “To provide the next generation with the essential tools to build a better future, we first must provide them the essential tools for their education. We wanted to provide better access to supplies and resources to help the students of Rose of Sharon and St Marcellins continue their studies, build a brighter future. Celebrating our shared values, we also provided a little piece of Emirates’ history, in the form of upcycled backpacks, demonstrating our longstanding and ongoing commitment to Zimbabwe’s culturally rich and diverse communities.”

In Zimbabwe, while efforts have been made to reform the education system, rural schools continue to face infrastructural deficiencies, widening the gap between them and urban institutions. St Marcellins Children’s Village Trust and Rose of Sharon are two organizations dedicated to supporting vulnerable youth in these underserved communities. Their work focuses on providing a safe, nurturing space for financially disadvantaged children, ensuring they have the opportunity to pursue their education.

With a long history of supporting youth, especially in education, Emirates donated backpacks made from upcycled materials sourced from its A380 and 777 aircraft, crafted in-house by Emirates Engineering. These limited-edition backpacks, part of the airline’s ‘Aircrafted by Emirates’ collection, were selected by the organizations to suit students of various age groups. Along with the backpacks, Emirates also supplied essential stationery such as pens, pencils, notebooks, calculators, and erasers.

Dr Fatima Maruta, Founder of Rose of Sharon, said: “We are grateful for the practical support that Emirates is giving to the children as it will make the world of difference.” 

Further enhancing this donation, Emirates purchased culturally enriching books from the Plus One Readers series, written by Munyaradzi Gunduza, Blessed Mudzingwa, and Reggies Chapwanya. These books are designed to promote interactive learning and discussion among students, allowing them to engage with stories that reflect their own cultural backgrounds while expanding their academic horizons.

In total, 325 handcrafted backpacks were delivered to the two organizations by the Emirates team in Harare, who visited the communities and interacted with the students, contributing to the support of Zimbabwe’s future leaders.

This initiative underscores Emirates’ ongoing commitment to community support through its Emirates Airline Foundation, which has a long-standing history of championing children’s welfare programs. The airline’s support for St Marcellins, which cares for orphaned and homeless children, many of whom face physical disabilities and health challenges, is just one example of its broader efforts. Over 70 children currently under the care of St Marcellins will now also benefit from the Aircrafted backpacks, continuing the foundation’s positive impact on the community.

Sybil Macdonald, Co-founder of St Marcellins, said: “Emirates has been incredible as they have carried us over the past 7 – 8 years and as a result we have managed to educate these children. We are truly grateful for the help.”

‘Aircrafted by Emirates’ has become a key part of the airline’s broader sustainability and social responsibility initiatives. Materials from over 191 aircraft slated for retrofitting are being repurposed, with over 50,000 kg of materials expected to be recovered in total. Beyond Zimbabwe, Emirates has also extended its support to Zambia and Ethiopia, donating over 1,200 backpacks across Africa, with more to come in Asia in the near future.

Through these contributions, Emirates reinforces its commitment to making a meaningful difference by connecting communities, fostering education, and creating lasting relationships in the regions it serves.

The post Emirates Enhances Educational Opportunities in Zimbabwe by Donating Handcrafted Backpacks and Vital Supplies for Vulnerable Students appeared first on Travel And Tour World.