Thanks to customer donations, the Emirates Airline Foundation used a staggering 132 million Skywards Miles last year to positively impact the lives and livelihoods of more than 90,000 people, mainly children, living in some of the most impoverished communities worldwide.
Skywards Milers are redeemable points earned by customers while traveling with Emirates or buying other products or services.
In the same period – from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 – the foundation also donated more than AED 6.5 million to 22 projects in 12 countries, according to a media release.
The foundation supported over 66,000 people in Bangladesh through regular medical missions at remote char areas in North Bengal and in refugee camps.
The foundation, established in 2003, routinely supports 32 projects and NGOs in 18 countries worldwide through customer donations, corporate sponsorships and Emirates funds. The foundation also appeals to Emirates’ customers to donate Skywards Miles, small change inflight, and funds on its website.
Last year, the foundation used 132 million donated Skywards Miles to support travel for 35 NGOs on more than 50 medical missions; four NGOs on five engineering missions; and one NGO on two educational missions.
The top five countries with the largest beneficiaries were: Bangladesh – more than 66,000 people; South Africa – around 7,900; Uganda – around 5,500; Tanzania – around 2,900; and Ghana – 2,000.
