Emirates Donates Upcycled Backpacks to Students in Mauritius

Aircrafted initiative supports education and community inclusion

Emirates has donated 100 school backpacks from its ‘Aircrafted by Emirates’ collection to students supported by APEIM (Association des Parents d’Enfants Inadaptés de l’Île Maurice).

The initiative focuses on supporting education and community development in Mauritius, particularly for children and young people with intellectual disabilities.

Supporting learning and inclusion

APEIM works with children and young people through specialised education, therapy and vocational programmes. Its efforts are aimed at building life skills, encouraging independence and supporting inclusion within the community.

The backpacks, distributed during an event marking Mauritius’ Independence Day, were filled with essential learning materials, including notebooks, pencils, and books. The event was attended by Dharambeer Gokhool, along with representatives from Emirates and APEIM.

Aircrafted by Emirates initiative

The donation is part of the airline’s ‘Aircrafted by Emirates’ programme, which repurposes materials from aircraft interiors, including fabric from the Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 fleet. These materials are redesigned into functional items such as school bags by Emirates Engineering in Dubai.

Through this initiative, Emirates has donated more than 3,700 backpacks across 10 countries, working with multiple non-governmental organisations to support students with practical educational resources.

Engagement with the Mauritius community

Emirates representatives, including Oomar Ramtoola, Manager for the Indian Ocean Islands, attended the distribution event and interacted with students, teachers and caregivers.

APEIM Director Jocelyne Beesoon highlighted the importance of partnerships that support inclusion and provide opportunities for children to learn and grow within society.

Long-standing presence in Mauritius

Emirates has operated in Mauritius since 2002, connecting the island to its international network. Alongside its aviation services, the airline continues to engage with local communities through initiatives focused on education and social support.