Air France-KLM General Manager for East and Southern Africa, Joris Holtus (right), is joined by Air France-KLM Commercial Director, Stephanie Spelle (left), to present one of the repurposed bags to James Muhia. The sturdy and waterproof bags were created from used flight amenity kits and will be provided to learners with special needs
Airline group marks 107th anniversary with recycled amenity kits, solar power and other support for learners with special needs
Air France-KLM has marked its 107th anniversary by giving used flight amenity kits a second life as waterproof bags for 40 learners with special needs at Special Unity School in Nguruman, Narok County.
The initiative formed part of a wider community support project focused on recycling, reuse and practical assistance to the school, which provides education, accommodation and daily care for children from the Nguruman community.
Alongside the repurposed bags, Air France-KLM donated reusable sanitary pads for girls, clothes and beddings, and installed a complete solar energy system to support learning and the school’s day-to-day operations.
The solar system comprises four Tier 1 solar panels, lithium battery storage and a hybrid inverter, with the project also covering installation, commissioning and user training.
Special Unity School currently supports 40 learners, comprising 19 girls and 21 boys aged between eight and 17.
The support was delivered following a two-day Cycling for Good expedition by 10 Air France-KLM cyclists, who travelled from Nairobi to Nguruman over approximately 164.7 kilometres.
The ride began with a flag-off on October 5, followed by the main cycling expedition on October 6 under the theme “Ride to Light.”
Cycling for Good brings together Air France-KLM employees and partners through cycling activities designed to promote wellness, environmental awareness and community engagement, while highlighting the needs of disadvantaged communities.
For the Nguruman project, the cycling expedition provided a platform for the airline group to combine employee participation with practical support for the school.
“For more than a century, we have believed that every journey should have a purpose. We want to create an experience that brings our people together while delivering something meaningful and lasting,” said Joris Holtus, General Manager for East and Southern Africa at Air France-KLM.
“In Nguruman, we are doing this by combining practical support for the school with the simple idea that materials that have served one purpose can still create value in another.”
The solar installation is expected to provide the school with a more reliable source of electricity for education, accommodation and daily operations, while the reusable bags provide a practical use for materials that would otherwise have reached the end of their original purpose.
The project culminated in an anniversary celebration attended by the school’s learners, Air France-KLM employees, cyclists and members of the local community.
