Finnair launches Christmas Charity Campaign

Finnair and UNICEF are cooperating for the tenth time this Christmas in the traditional Change for Good campaign, with collections of coins and notes on Finnair aircraft taking place from November 28 until January 1, 2006. For the fourth consecutive year the collection is for the education of under-privileged girls in Nepal.

"Finnair wants to thank its customers for their long-term support in improving the lot of the children of the world," said Cia Branders of Finnair marketing. "Although we create the means for the collection, we rely on the support of our customers in practice."

Instead of sending cards and gifts, Finnair is contributing equivalent sums to the charity this Christmas.

Customers can contribute to the fund by filling the collection envelopes placed in seat pockets with unwanted coins or notes on most international Finnair flights with the exception of some shorter routes. Sealed envelopes should be returned to members of the cabin crew.

In 1994 and 1996 the funds were used for the children of war-torn Ruanda. In 1998 the target was the drug-related problems of the youth of Kaliningrad, while the youngsters of Kosovo benefited in 1999 and support was given to the children of Ethiopia in 2000. Since 2002 the aim has been to support the education of the young girls of developing countries.

A small amount of cash goes a long way: just 12 euros can provide education for a Nepalese girl for a whole year. Finnair collected 35,283 euros in the 2004-5 campaign.

Change for Good has been the official charity campaign for the oneworld global airline alliance, of which Finnair is a member, since 1999.

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