Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) has concluded a year-long programme of activities and humanitarian initiatives to mark the UAE’s Year of Giving.

The airline donated one dirham from every ticket booked to charity and other noble initiatives that touched the lives of those in need around the world.

2017 was officially declared as the Year of Giving by UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In support of which EAG launched a strategy based on the government’s three Year of Giving pillars: Corporate Social Responsibility, Volunteering and Serving the Nation.

A number of activities supported Syrian refugees, including a welfare trip to Lebanon where more than 3,550 Syrian refugees received winter clothes, shoes, mattresses, dry food parcels and blankets.

EAG also made a trip to the UAE-Jordan Mrajeeb Al Fhood refugee camp in Jordan where it distributed school bags, stationery sets, blankets and garments to more than 2,500 children.

In Greece, vital school and home supplies were donated to more than 1,000 Syrians at the Ritsona refugee camp near Athens.

The donation drive also saw EAG donate nearly 40 pallets of catering supplies to Emirates Red Crescent to support charity projects during the Holy Month.

Dates packages were distributed to more than 1,800 ramp loaders at Abu Dhabi International Airport, as well as in Hong Kong, India, Sri Lanka and Lebanon.

More than 3,000 Iftar meal boxes and water were distributed to labourers residing at Tafseer Camp in Reem Island, Abu Dhabi, by more than 120 EAG volunteers. A campaign ‘For Your Sake, Somalia’ targeting famine in the African nation was also planned by Etihad Guest members .

Members of Etihad Airways’ award-winning loyalty programme Etihad Guest donated 750 Etihad Guest Miles to the emergency response in the African country, with providing one meal.

Students from the Future Rehabilitation Centre, a local special needs school, were whisked away from school for a surprise hands-on science lesson in Etihad Airways’ state-of-the-art flight simulator, where they learnt about flight regulations, aircraft technology and how to be an effective co-pilot.

This latest initiatives builds on the Group’s track record as a socially responsible organisation. In 2017, 1000 EAG employees volunteered with more than 7437 hours of time in support of charities and community causes.