I had the pleasure of flying to Philadelphia on Friday morning to pick up little Will and bring him to DFW. He had been in Philly for 6 months with an amazing host family seeking medical care for a rare disease called arthrogryposis which affects his joints and causes him limited mobility in his hands. His host family was heartbroken to see him leave but it was time for him to return to Burkina Faso to his parents.
I’ve done many escorts in the past that have touched me in ways that words cannot express but Will was my youngest at 2 years of age. He was such a sweet, kind and loving child that he had everyone seated around us talking to him and entertaining him. He slept like an angel in my arms and before I knew it we were landing at DFW. It was hard to say goodbye but I knew that he was in good hands with his next escort (which we nicknamed Big Will so as to not be confused with Little Will) who would take him to Paris. From there he flew to Burkina Faso.
I was so touched by my experience with Will that I posted a photo of him and which inspired my niece who saw the post. She will be running a marathon soon and wants to dedicate her run to raising awareness as well as funds for the Airline Ambassador program. I will get the marathon details from her and would love if an account or link could be created so that her friends and family can donate funds to The Airline Ambassador program. Thanks for all you do Nancy!
Tammy Meade
LaughMD is installing channels of comedy videos onto hospital TVs and Tablets because… Laughter is the Best Medicine!
Airline Ambassadors Advisor, the real Dr. Patch Adams, portrayed on film by the dearly departed Robin Williams is Advisor to the project. Support this Indiegogo Campaign to launch pilot programs at three hospitals. Check it out at www.LaughMD.org
Laugh MD was founded by producer, Frank Chindamo who is including AAI short as part of the program. If you can’t afford to donate, please share our campaign on your social media and help spread the word.
If so, they promise not to run over there and tickle you!
Airline Ambassadors has been featured in 144 TV features, 385 print and 72 radio features since their inception. In recent years most attention has been on AAI’s leadership advocating for Human Trafficking Awareness in the industry. Here are some samples of media coverage for a full list please click this LINK
News Segment on KCRA – Spotting Human Trafficking
Again in partnership with Diakonos International, our team distributed 60 backpacks filled with school supplies to include among others, notebooks, glue, geometric sets, pencil holders and more to Kominote Ti Fanmi Nou de Diakonos, Kidz House and a tent house in Carrefour, Haiti. We were particularly inspired by an amazing and beautiful 12 year old Cristina Garza who sought the help of her school, St. Patricia Catholic School in Chicago, Illinois to collect backpacks and school supplies to bring to a land she had never even heard about and to children she had never met. The only thing on this child’s mind and heart was that there were children who were in need. She has a heart of gold. Another member of our team, Nikki Duplisea, was able to get 23 Jansport backpacks which were enthusiastically received and we received 25 school kits gathered and sent from New Jersey by Youth Ambassador Saisree Chillara – THANK YOU!
We started on the day of arrival by sorting out all the donated supplies and filling the backpacks with pens, pencils, notebooks. The kindergarten aged children were given age appropriate backpacks with pencils, a box of crayons, 2 bottles of glue, scissors, erasers, a sharpener, a glue stick and goodies such as packs of gummy bears, granola bars, lollipops and candies. These were distributed to Kidz House Kindergarten School, headed by Mrs. Judith Civil who had approximately 25 children and to Kominote Ti Fanmi Nou de Diakonos Children Home who had 4 children in kindergarten.
The elementary school aged children were given backpacks with a pencil pouch filled with pencils, blue pens, erasers, a sharpener, a ruler, 2 bottles of glue, scissors, a box of coloring pencils and goodies such as cookies, granola bars, lollipops and candies. These were distributed to students at Kominote Ti Fanmi Nou de Diakonos Children Home with 8 children.
The secondary school aged children were given the Jansport backpacks with a pencil pouch filled with pencils, mechanical pencils, blue and red pens, markers, coloring pencils, erasers, a sharpener, a ruler, a geometric set, a calculator and goodies such as cookies, granola bars, lollipops and candies. These were distributed to students at Kominote Ti Fanmi Nou de Diakonos Children Home with 8 children and Mr. Wilfrid’s school for homeless tent children with approximately 15 children.
ITINERARY for trip:
Tuesday September 16th
MIA – PAP AA Flt 1665 10:15-12:15 Noon
2:00 pm – Transfer directly to Kominoté Ti Fanmi Nou de Diakonos Children’s Home
3:00 pm – Volunteer orientation and Welcome Lunch at KTFN
4:30 pm – Depart to Auberge du Quebec
Wednesday September 17th
8:30 am – Depart for Kominoté Ti Fanmi Nou de Diakonos Children’s Home
9:00 am – Meet and greet the children and staff of Our Small Community of Family
10:00 am – Back to School Distribution
1:00 pm – Tour of Port-au-Prince
4:00 pm – Return to Auberge du Quebec
Thursday September 18th
10:00 pm –Depart for Tour of Petionville
1:00 pm – Lunch at local Restaurant in Petionville
Friday September 19th
7:00 am Depart for Airport Toussaint Louverture
See Pics below”
Join our amaaing volunteer program as a Children’s Medical Escort. You will provide a warm companion on the most important journey of these kids lives.
Here are a few pics from recent escorts….Angel and Tara celebrated getting off probation as AA flight attendants by escorting two children from Paris to the US for donated medical care, Karen Bracy and Rosa, after heartsurgery in DTW, Ryan Ryan Paquette brought John back to his mom …and much more!
COMMITMENT TO A TRIP – Once you agree to accept an escort trip, you are expected to be committed to making the trip. Your name will be given to the agency involved and to their foreign contact, and the child will be booked on the agreed upon date. If, because of illness or an emergency you are unable to go, immediately contact the Escort Coordinator. Keep in mind that a great deal of time and effort has gone into arranging the trip and to have to replace an escort at the last minute is extremely difficult and causes many problems.
INFORMATION REGARDING THE TRIP – The escort will be provided with the necessary information pertaining to the trip including the itinerary, names, phone numbers, emergency numbers, and the name of the person authorized to accept the child at the end of the trip. Hotel information will also be included. The escort will also be given an Escort Authorization form which should be carried on the trip.
ESCORT RESPONSIBILITIES – The child must remain in the company of the escort at all times until the child is released to her biological parent, legal guardian, foster parent, or an authorized representative of the agency as set out in paragraph 2 above. The escort is never permitted to leave the child with the airline and leave the airport premises UNLESS the person meeting the child has not arrived and the escort is doing a turn and will miss the return flight if she waits with the child. In this situation, she should attempt to call the person meeting the child, then leave the child with the airline manager on duty. In addition, the escort must not take the child off airport property without first obtaining permission from the Escort Coordinator or the agency holding temporary legal guardianship of the child. It is the escort’s responsibility to very carefully look over the Travel Arrangements and ensure all is in order for the trip. If you have questions, contact the Trip Coordinator. If you encounter a flight delay or misconnection call the Escort Coordinator or the U.S. agency responsible for the child. Do not call the host family. They are not trained to solve travel related problems and this will only upset them.
SEATING ON AIRPLANE – Normally the escort will travel on either an A-12 pass, which is upgradable or
on a Miles for Kids ticket (AA retirees only), which is not upgradable. The child will always be booked in
economy. Although it is certainly permissible to ask for an upgrade on an A-12 when not traveling with
the child, you should never ask for an upgrade while escorting a child. You should make every effort to
be seated beside the child in coach.
PARTICULAR PROBLEMS FOR CHILDREN COMING INTO THE U.S. – Oftentimes there is an emotional farewell at the airport, especially if this is the child’s first trip to the U.S. Even though the child may be close to hysterics as he is taken from his family, he will normally become calm as soon as he is settled on the airplane. It is very important that you do not make blind promises to his family or to the child, such as assuring them that his medical problem will be completely corrected. Although the doctors are hopeful that every case will be successful, sometimes this is just not possible. Never promise the child’s family that they can come to the U.S. to visit the child. Simply reassure them that he will be well cared for and loved while in the U.S. If you wish to check on the child’s progress while he is in the U.S. you should call the agency responsible for the child and not the host family.
PARTICULAR PROBLEMS FOR CHILDREN ESCORTED HOME – You should call the host family the day before the child leaves and make arrangements to meet them the next morning at the airport. Encourage them to say their goodbyes before security and not to ask for a gate pass. This gives the child an opportunity to settle down before getting on the airplane. Sometimes a younger child will not immediately recognize his family and will cling to the escort. Although this is upsetting to his family, it is quite normal and within a few minutes he will go to them. Occasionally the child’s family is unable to meet his flight and he must be handed over to an authorized representative of the agency. As soon as you return home, call the host family and let them know how the trip went. Remember, they have loved and cared for the child, often for many months, and have bonded with him. When relating the homecoming, try not to upset them with details of a less than perfect airport arrival. If you are doing a turn in a foreign city it may be necessary for you to leave the child’s checked baggage in customs in order for you to make the return flight. If this happens, give the claim checks to the person meeting the child and ensure they understand they must get the bags out of customs. Ask an airline agent to help with this. Leave the bags only if absolutely necessary.
- MISCELLANEOUS INSTRUCTIONS–
a) The consumption of alcohol is prohibited on escort trips while accompanying a child.
b) The escort should not be accompanied by friends or family on escort trips.
c) If you have a uniform, we strongly suggest that you wear it along with your AAI badge while traveling with the child. It does help and does open doors for you.
d) When bringing a child to a host family, call them in advance to introduce yourself and ask them to request a gate pass and meet you and the child at the arrival gate. This is important if you are doing a turn.
e) Keep carry on to a minimum. Bring a back pack rather than a rollaboard. Keep your hands free.
f) It will be helpful to bring disposable gloves, sanitizing soap and moist wipes. When escorting infants and toddlers to the U.S. we recommend you take a few extra disposable diapers.
g) Avoid giving the child rich foods. It is especially important that you keep the heart patients hydrated but avoid caffeinated drinks. Do not offer them food made from peanuts.
h) If the child is a heart patient, make sure he has a wheelchair. Even though he may look healthy, do not allow him to walk long distances.
i) When taking a child home, ensure his bags are checked to his final destination. This is especially important when taking a child to CDG where he will connect to AF.
j) Always take a credit card and a sufficient amount of cash with you for hotels, departure taxes and unexpected expenses. Be prepared for the unexpected – it does happen.
k) Make pictures and send them to us along with a short story of your trip for the AAI website.
l) If you have particular concerns over anything pertaining to the child, please report these concerns to the director of the U.S. agency responsible for the child.
The boys were from Burkina Faso. Hervann, age 12 had a leg amputation and Karim, age 9 had a club foot correction. Retired ORDAA F/A Margaret Strohl brought the 2 boys from CMH to ORD where they met Anne.
The boys….so adorable, polite and sweet…can’t say enough about them! The little guy, Karim, was so sad to leave and cried most of the way. The big guy, Hervann, was trying to be so strong but he was sad, too. He ended up getting sick. Don’t know if it was a stomach virus, nerves, ate too much or all the above. He said he was feeling better by the time we left him so hopefully he was OK the rest of the trip.
Fortunately I had a friend of mine traveling with me. I honestly don’t know how I could have done it without her help. Not that the boys were trouble…as I said, they were so, so sweet. I was just being pulled in so many directions. Trying to get tickets/seating straight, get thru customs, help clean up Hervann and comfort Karim.
Please know, it was a very positive experience and I’m so glad I was able to help. The Paris police were very helpful and kind. They met the flight and went out of their way to help us…. But the hour in the “police station” was very crazy. It’s a tiny space and there were at least 25 people crammed in there.
I sure hope to be able to help with another escort in the not too distant future.
Thanks for all you do,
Anne Tepe, F/A, American Airlines
Hello everyone,
If you think it was just another weekend in your life, think again. It was a gift given to us, it was our gift given to them, and the only appropriate response is “gratefulness”. The appreciation of the incredible range of colors that nature give to us every day for our enjoyment and we take for granted so many times… We all looked at the sky and saw the clouds this weekend and we rarely do that in our everyday lives. We just think of the weather: good weather or bad weather. We all enjoyed the rain and the sun as we relaxed and appreciated the beauty of nature at the farm… None of us really cared about the rain, certainly not the kids. We have so many gifts and sometimes we don’t appreciate them. We open a faucet and there is hot water, cold water, we flip a switch and there is electrical light, we go to the bathroom and there is toilet paper and towels and drinkable water. Millions of people don’t know what it is to have all those 
gifts, but yet live very happy, like the kids from the foundation. They have never taken a hot shower in their lives. Each kid has an incredible story behind their faces — and sometimes we would never ever understand it. I wish you all open your heart to all these blessings and whoever meets you will be blessed by your eyes, your smile by your touch… just by your presence! Thank you for your presence in my life this weekend. I honor your friendship.
Love, Alex Restrepo
Enjoy this video montage – thanks to “Kitty” Stinson Also the website of Mitanni Farm here.
In the words of Terry Drew Karanan ” We serve not to be served, yet in the act of service we receive so much in return.“ Check out more of his thoughts here
There was even time to see the gorgeous cathedral, and party like the Colombians do on our own private Chiva Bus! Join us for the Christmas celebration, December 3-5, 2014 : Email Alex Restrepo at alex.restrepo@airlineamb.org or call 305-502-5134 Click this link for a video clip for one of last year’s missions.
You can click any of the thumbnails below for a bigger picture!
We have received a request from an NGO partner at the Border in San Diego. Due to the hundreds of children arriving in the U.S., there is a desperate need for the following:- Coloring books and crayons
- Children’s underwear
- Needs are changing every day, and there may be a need for :
- Baby food
- Formula
- Powdered milk
- Diapers
