Kucetekela Foundation and Alliance for Children Everywhere (ACE) Zambia are dedicated to empowering financially disadvantaged youth by providing educational opportunities and a nurturing environment to help them thrive. As part of its ongoing commitment to youth development, Emirates has extended its support to these organizations, ensuring students receive practical and stylish backpacks alongside essential stationery for their academic journey. This initiative aligns with Emirates’ mission to ‘connect communities’ by making meaningful contributions in the regions it serves.
To ensure every student received age-appropriate resources, Kucetekela Foundation and ACE Zambia selected a variety of backpacks from the ‘Aircrafted by Emirates’ collection. Each bag was meticulously handcrafted by Emirates Engineering using upcycled materials sourced from retired A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft, demonstrating the airline’s commitment to sustainability and innovation.
Omar Bushlaibi, Country Manager, Zambia, Emirates, said: “Education, much like travel, broadens the mind and brings immeasurable value to society at large, providing the next generation with the essential tools to build a better future. Celebrating the values we share with ACE Zambia and Kucetekela Foundation, we wanted to support by providing school supplies and a little piece of Emirates’ history, in the form of upcycled backpacks. We have been committed to Zambia since our first flight in 2012, and we remain committed, not just to scaling our operations but to enriching the surrounding communities too.”
Beyond backpacks, Emirates supplied an array of school essentials, including pens, pencils, erasers, notebooks, and calculators. Additionally, the airline collaborated with local authors such as Aliness Phiri and publishers like Kulanda House to provide books infused with rich cultural narratives and interactive learning opportunities. These books will encourage knowledge-sharing and discussions among students, enhancing their engagement with the material.
Simasiku Mukena, General Manager at Kucetekela Foundation said, “Emirates donated a total of 84 bags and the organisation is very thrilled. There were a lot of smiles on the kid’s faces and we really appreciate the donation. It was a very generous gesture that will profoundly impact our organisation.”
Emirates’ team in Lusaka personally visited both organizations to deliver 464 backpacks and interact with the students, reaffirming the airline’s dedication to fostering education and empowering Zambia’s future leaders.
This initiative is an extension of Emirates’ broader efforts through the Emirates Airline Foundation, which has a long-standing history of supporting children’s welfare programs worldwide. As part of the airline’s sustainability and repurposing initiatives, more than 50,000 kg of materials from 191 aircraft undergoing interior cabin retrofits are being recovered and repurposed. In addition to Zambia, similar donations have been made in Zimbabwe and Ethiopia, bringing the total contribution in Africa to 1,239 bags, with plans to extend this initiative to Asia in the near future.
Elarm Chalusa Head Teacher for Jana Secondary School under the Alliance for Children Everywhere said: “We are a very small school, but Emirates brought such a wonderful gift that will go a very long way in the lives of the children. One of the things that we strive for is to improve reading ability and embed reading culture in our children – Emirates brought plenty of literature for our learners, which they are thrilled and excited to read.”
By transforming aviation materials into meaningful resources, Emirates continues to champion education and community development, reinforcing its role as a global force for positive change.
Tags: Omar Bushlaibi, Zambia, Elarm Chalusa Alliance for Children Everywhere, Simasiku Mukena, Kucetekela Foundation, Education Emirates
