20000323

Emirates opens

passenger-funded

orphanage

in Thailand

KARACHI: Emirates has opened an orphanage in southern Thailand, funded by passengers' donations to the airline's onboard "Care for Life" project, in aid of the UAE Red Crescent Society.

The orphanage is home to 80 girls, aged between seven and 12. They attend the local school and, for every 20 girls, there is a nanny and a 'mother' who look after their needs at home.

Emirates invited the Thai Prime Minister, Chuan Leekpai as Guest of Honour to the ceremony, which was also attended by Sorasak Soyson, Governor of the southern Satul province, and Eisa Khalifa Al-Suwaidi, Secretary-General of the UAE Red Crescent Society.

Representing Emirates were Mohammed Alkhaja, Emirates' Director Group Safety, Training & Standards; Ahmed Khoory, Emirates General Manager Base station; Soonthorn Suree, Emirates' Manager for Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos; and Virasakdi Vongkositkul, Emirates' Sales Manager of Thailand.

Alkhaja said: The Orphanage Home is only possible because of the generosity of our passengers, to whom we must express our sincere thanks.

"We should also like to express our appreciation of the UAE Red Crescent Society and our colleagues in Thailand. Their combined efforts will go a long way towards the nurturing of Thailand's young".

This is the first time Emirates' Care for Life programme has funded the building of an orphanage, although the airline has been associated with other charity work across the world.

The UAE Red Crescent Society's Secretary-General Eisa Khalifa Al-Suwaidi, said: "We are grateful to both Emirates' passengers and to the airline itself for giving us the opportunity to provide this facility for the community in southern Thailand".ÑPR