Agility teams up with Angel Appeal

Reverend Stephen Miller, Director and Port Chaplain, The Mission to Seafarers (Dubai), said:

"It is not an easy challenge to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, especially given the time scale. However, I am so proud of the 17 volunteers to have completed this challenge for the Angel Appeal. The donations by each volunteer and their sponsor will go a long way to funding the Flying Angel over the coming months."

Elias Monem, CEO of Agility Middle east & Africa added, "Agility takes the issue of corporate social responsibility (CSR) seriously - and sponsoring one of the challengers to raise funds for the important work that Angel Appeal does was part of our CSR strategy for 2009. Angel Appeal is a seafarers-specific charity and as a large part of our operations is related to sea transport, we wanted to show our gratitude to the seafarers through our contribution to this cause."

The Angel Appeal is a project by The Mission to Seafarers (Dubai), which is part of an international organization that cares for seafarers regardless of race or religion in over 300 ports around the world. The UAE's east coast is the second largest bunker anchorage in the world and it is used by over 10,500 ships each year.

While anchored offshore the UAE, over 200,000 seafarers are unable to communicate with family and friends at home for weeks, and sometimes months at a time. Commissioned in February 2007, the Angel Appeal launched 'The Flying Angel', a purpose built vessel that has internet café, library with DVD's, books, telecommunications and a medical clinic. It visits up to 6 ships a day and welcomes up to 70 seafarers every day. The Flying Angel provides seafarers a means to communicate with their families and enjoy some time to relax away from their vessels.