Emirates Donates 100 Upcycled Leather Backpacks To Teachers In Johannesburg

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South Africa’s hardworking teachers have been gifted with Emirates’ limited-edition backpacks, highlighting the airline's commitment to ‘connecting communities’ by making meaningful contributions to the destinations it serves. The sold-out backpacks are part of the second ‘Aircrafted by Emirates’ repurposed luggage collection.

Emirates has been flying to South Africa for nearly 30 years and has been a major supporter of local arts, culture, tourism, and education. To continue supporting the country’s education system, the airline gifted 100 teachers with its exclusive upcycled backpacks.

With World Teachers Day being celebrated in October, the Emirates team based in Johannesburg visited Carter Primary School and Gordon Primary School in the township of Alexandra. Both institutions play a critical role in nurturing the next generation. Speaking about the initiative, Emirates Regional Manager for Southern Africa, Afzal Parambil, said:

“Since our first flight to Johannesburg in 1995, we have not only invested in scaling our operations and developing South Africa’s tourism sector but invested in the community too. Education, much like travel, broadens the mind and brings immeasurable value to society at large. Celebrating these shared values, we wanted to show our appreciation for the teachers in one of Johannesburg’s most impoverished townships. We are proud to enrich the communities we serve.”

The premium cream leather backpacks are handmade from upcycled materials taken from the airline's Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft, including leather from its first class seats. Each teacher also received a luxe leather notebook, an on-the-go tumbler, and a gift pack of teas from Dilmah.

In 2022, Emirates launched its historic retrofit program, refreshing its aircraft cabins with new seats and interior designs. The airline has found creative ways to reuse the materials from the refurbished aircraft, upcycling them into a collection of bags and accessories.

The leather backpacks are produced at the Emirates Engineering facility in Dubai and represent a piece of the airline's history and the spirit of innovation, which is common between the airline and the teachers. The educators were glad to be recognized for helping build a better future for their pupils. Carter Primary School’s Principal Seemela said,

“It means a lot to us to have our hard work, dedication, and sacrifices recognized. We are grateful to the Emirates team for hand-picking our school. We don’t often get recognition for the work we do, in the communities we work in. Emirates has shown our learners that through hard work they too can be recognized for their efforts and become key players and role models in their own communities, regardless of their backgrounds. And we hope that this is the start of a long-lasting relationship.”

The airline’s donation aligns with its long-standing support for youth by providing essential services. Education is at the heart of many of Emirates’ initiatives, helping create a meaningful, sustainable, and lasting impact in the communities it serves.

The Dubai-based carrier is known for supporting children’s schooling programs and various causes through the Emirates Airline Foundation. South Africa is one of the most important destinations in the airline's global network. It supports two causes in the country: Singakwenza and Fikelela Children's Centre.

Singakwenza supports early childhood education for low-income families, training 71 practitioners to create educational opportunities for up to 970 young children. Fikelela provides housing and education for children affected with HIV/AIDS. The airline also supports St Marcellin's Children's Village in neighboring Zimbabwe.

Last month, Emirates revealed a new livery on one of its A380s, celebrating the Foundation's decades-long contribution. The aircraft, registration A6-EEP, flew to Johannesburg on September 2, 2024, and has since served several other destinations, including Sydney, Paris, Washington, and Toronto.

Emirates aims to support early education in Africa and Asia.

Emirates is currently the leading intercontinental carrier to South Africa, flying thrice daily to Johannesburg, twice daily to Cape Town, and daily to Durban. The airline will introduce a fourth daily flight to Johannesburg in March 2024, providing additional options and flexibility for passengers traveling between South Africa and the UAE.

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