In Cape Town, South Africa, more than 800 primary school students spent a day on rugby, learning and creativity as Emirates, European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) and the Kolisi Foundation brought the Emirates Nourishment Programme to a local school. The partners aimed to show how nutrition, education and sport can together help children build confidence and reach their potential.
DHL Stormers players, Kolisi Foundation founder Siya Kolisi, Emirates Cabin Crew, team members from South Africa and Dubai, and EPCR representatives all took part.
Breakfast Before the Lessons#
The day started with the Emirates Nourishment Programme. The partners helped prepare and serve breakfast porridge so that the school’s children began their day fed and ready to learn.
A nutritious breakfast can make a real difference to a child’s ability to concentrate, take part in class and make use of learning opportunities.
About the Programme#
The activation offered a glimpse of the wider Emirates Nourishment Programme, a multi-year initiative delivered by the Kolisi Foundation in partnership with Emirates and EPCR. The programme aims to provide approximately 400,000 nutritious breakfasts annually, reaching around 2,000 learners each year through participating schools and Early Childhood Development centres.
By helping children access breakfast consistently, the programme seeks to support their readiness to learn and take part in school.
Afzal Parambil, Emirates’ Regional Manager of Southern Africa, said: “At Emirates, we believe meaningful partnerships are those that make a lasting difference. Through the Emirates Nourishment Programme, we’re working with our partners to support children in ways that go beyond the classroom: providing nutrition to help them learn, access to resources that support their education and connecting them with inspiring role models. It’s a privilege to be part of an initiative that invests in South Africa’s next generation and reflects Emirates’ longstanding commitment to supporting the communities we serve.”
Mahlatse Mashua, Managing Director of the Kolisi Foundation, said: “Meaningful impact starts with understanding the barriers children face and being intentional about addressing them. What makes this partnership special is how it brings nutrition, education and sport together in a sustained approach. Ultimately, the measure of a successful partnership is not simply what we do together, but what becomes possible for the children we serve.”
Rugby Clinic and Team Visit#
After breakfast, DHL Stormers players ran a rugby clinic on the school grounds. Through fun drills and small-sided games, the following players introduced students to the basics of the game:
- Siya Kolisi
- Lukhanyo Vokozela
- BJ Dixon
- Markus Muller
- Ruan Ackermann
- Leolin Zas
- Vernon Matongo
- JJ Kotze
The sessions also emphasised teamwork, communication, resilience and problem-solving, skills that apply well beyond rugby.
Siya Kolisi, Founder of the Kolisi Foundation, said: “Every child is born with potential, but not every child has the same opportunity to realise it. Whether it’s access to nutritious food, learning resources or someone who believes in them, our responsibility is to help remove those barriers. Today is incredibly special, but what excites me most is that this programme goes beyond today. It’s about giving every child the opportunity to thrive.”
The visit also gave students the chance to learn from sporting role models who show what can be achieved through perseverance, collaboration and belief in oneself.
DHL Stormers player Vernon Matongo, who took part in the activity, said: “It was special to see what Emirates, EPCR and the Kolisi Foundation are doing. Some of those kids will only have the meal from the Nourishment Programme that they get in the morning, and that’s it for the day. And then they must concentrate in class, play sport in the afternoon. I don’t think any kid should have to go through those circumstances.
“In a team, you get to know your teammates’ stories, and some players in the Stormers came from similar backgrounds. So, I think it’s very important to go and give back. Being able to contribute is massive, being able to see that was special for us. The kids from the programme also came to the game (against Bristol Bears) and it was very special to have them there.”
Backpacks and Creative Workshop#
Emirates delivered 820 backpacks from the Aircrafted KIDS collection to the primary school. Each backpack contained stationery, water bottles and age-appropriate books written by local authors. The books combine culturally rich stories with interactive learning activities, encouraging children to explore new ideas, develop a love of reading and exchange stories with classmates.
Aircrafted KIDS supports early childhood education by providing school supplies and helping to remove a common barrier to learning: access to resources. To date, nearly 4,000 Aircrafted KIDS backpacks have been distributed to schools and community centres around the globe.
In a bag charm workshop, students made personalised decorations for their Aircrafted KIDS backpacks from upcycled leather repurposed from Emirates’ A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft. Maite Gonzalez Eizaguirre, Head of Emirates Aircrafted at Emirates Engineering, led the session, which was assisted by Emirates Cabin Crew and team members. The session introduced students to the possibilities of upcycling, showing how materials can be given a new
