Hamad International Airport (HIA) marked World Sight Day on October 8 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 Princess Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, who is a patron of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. The drive is HIA’s initiative to support Orbis and Qatar Charity (QC)’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 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 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 co-operation with the British Council, which 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 HIA chief operating officer Badr Mohamed al-Meer.
Florence Branchu, head of partnerships, Middle East, at 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 Princess Sophie, the Countess of Wessex.
Princess Sophie also toured HIA’s airport
facilities led by al-Meer.