Emirates has celebrated South Africa’s educators by gifting 100 limited-edition backpacks to teachers from Carter Primary School and Gordon Primary School in Alexandra, Sandton.
- The initiative, perfectly timed with World Teachers’ Day, recognises the vital role teachers play in shaping future generations.
- Emirates’ Johannesburg team visited the two schools, which are pillars of education in one of Johannesburg’s most underprivileged areas.
- Both schools are deeply committed to equipping young minds with the skills and knowledge to build brighter futures.
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The backpacks, part of Emirates’ second ‘Aircrafted by Emirates’ collection, were made from upcycled materials salvaged from the interiors of the airline’s iconic A380 and 777 aircraft. This limited-edition collection represents a blend of luxury, sustainability, and innovation, with each bag handmade at the Emirates Engineering facility in Dubai.
The premium cream leather backpacks include leather from the airline’s First Class seats. Accompanying each backpack were a luxe leather notebook, an on-the-go tea tumbler, and a curated selection of teas from Dilmah, adding an extra touch of appreciation for the teachers’ dedication.
It means a lot to us to have our hard work, dedication, and sacrifices acknowledged. 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 serve. 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. We hope this marks the beginning of a long-lasting relationship.
// Principal Seemela of Carter Primary School
Afzal Parambil, Emirates’ Regional Manager for Southern Africa, highlighted the airline’s longstanding connection with South Africa since its inaugural flight to Johannesburg in 1995. Over nearly three decades, Emirates has not only expanded its operations and contributed to the country’s thriving tourism sector but has also actively invested in its communities.
On 1 March 2025, Emirates will add a fourth daily flight to Johannesburg, introducing a convenient morning slot to and from South Africa’s largest and busiest international airport. This expansion restores Emirates’ operations in South Africa to pre-pandemic levels, with an impressive 49 weekly flights into one of its most in-demand destinations on the continent.
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.
// Emirates’ Regional Manager for Southern Africa, Afzal Parambil
The ‘Aircrafted by Emirates’ collection repurposes materials salvaged from Emirates’ aircraft interior cabin retrofit programme, transforming them into stylish, functional accessories.
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