Change for Good
A UNICEF initiative since 1991
Change for Good: An innovative partnership between UNICEF and the international airline industry
What does one do with all that spare change in a different currency after a well-spent holiday or a business trip abroad? Why not donate it to a good cause! This was the thinking that launched Change for Good in 1991 – an initiative between UNICEF and the international airline industry. Today, this programme is one of UNICEF’s best known and longest running partnerships.
Several major airline carriers run Change for Good collections on their international and sometimes domestic flights. The participating carriers are Aer Lingus, American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific Air, easyJet, Japan Airlines and Qantas. The airlines collect unused currency from passengers and convert the coins and notes into life-saving materials and services for vulnerable children around the world.
Contributing to a better future for children remains the core purpose of the initiative, even though Change for Good has evolved over the years to reach more passengers and has adapted to new behaviours and trends. Adapting was particularly critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, where contact-free and cashless donations were encouraged. While the airline industry was hit hard by the pandemic, airlines are more committed than ever to find solutions and launch campaigns that raise vital funds for children around the world.
In 2021, easyJet raised funds for the Change for Good programme to support the delivery of 2 billion COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments for health workers. For the first time, airline passengers were able to donate on board through their credit cards. Similarly, American Airlines allocated funds raised through Change for Good to support COVID-19 relief efforts in 2020 and offered their customers an online option to donate through the UNICEF USA website in 2021.
Whether cash is collected by cabin crew in an envelope, through a tap, in a donation box at the airport, from smartphones after scanning a QR code or from home after visiting a website, funds are donated to the respective National Committee for UNICEF to be transferred to UNICEF programmes that help children in more than 190 countries.
Since its launch, the Change for Good programme has generated over US$185 million. Change for Good provides UNICEF and the international airline industry with a unique partnership opportunity: it enables UNICEF to deliver its message to a captive audience, while airlines demonstrate their commitment to social responsibility and increase customer loyalty. Airline staff can also be part of the change for children – a Change for Good.
Last updated 19 September 2022
