Hamad International Airport marks World Sight Day with fundraising activities

Hamad International Airport marked World Sight Day on the 8^th of October by launching a fundraising drive at the passenger terminal in partnership with Orbis UK, a global blindness prevention charity.

The airport’s fundraising drive was inaugurated by HRH Princess Sophie, the Countess of Wessex who is a patron of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).The drive is HIA’s initiative to support Orbis and Qatar Charity’s‘These Hands’ campaign to raise funds to reduce childhood blindness in Bangladesh. A booth has been set up at HIA’s terminal beside the Lamp Bear where passengers and airport staff can donate to the cause and engage in themed activities. All proceeds from the HIA fundraising drive will go towards supporting the ‘These Hands’ campaign.

The booth has also been adorned with paintings created by the children from Al Noor School for the Blind and Al Ruqayya School. The art pieces, created by visually impaired children, were conceived and directed by the British visual and performance artist Rachel Gadsden as part of Al Noor Fragile Vision- a multi-cultural art collaboration between UK and Middle East communities and arts organisations. HIA is exhibiting these art pieces in cooperation with the British Council, who curated the exhibition.

“Hamad International Airport is proud to support Orbis UK on World Sight Day for the fourth consecutive year. We are delighted to have this opportunity to partner with Orbis UK to contribute towards its sight saving initiatives,” said Hamad International Airport Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer.

Florence Branchu, Head of Partnerships Middle East, Orbis UK said: “We are hugely grateful to Hamad International Airport for joining forces with us to celebrate World Sight Day once again. This year our celebrations are particularly special as we are joined by HRH Princess Sophie, The Countess of Wessex. We are delighted that she is inaugurating the airport’s fundraising activities for ‘These Hands’. All funds raised through this campaign will help to save the sight and transform the lives of thousands of children in Bangladesh.”

HRH Princess Sophie, the Countess of Wessex also toured HIA’s airport facilities led by Mr. Al Meer.