KUWAIT CITY, Oct 03: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) continues its “I Dream to Be” initiative, a first-of-a-kind initiative which aims to fulfill the dreams of children with cancer, giving them the opportunity to experience their aspirations, giving them the chance to live their dreams.

Two young patients, Ali Yusuf and Ali Al Momen, who are receiving treatment at NBK Hospital, have always dreamt of becoming pilots. Through a collaboration with Jazeera Airways, NBK helped make their dream come true by providing them with the chance to learn the basics of piloting.

NBK arranged a special visit for Yusuf and Al Momen to Jazeera Airways, where they met with officials and participated in a training session, followed by a real flight experience, with a round-trip journey from Kuwait to Riyadh and back.

On board the flight, the Jazeera Airways captain, together with the NBK team, welcomed the two young heroes, acknowledging their bravery as they undergo chemotherapy at NBK Children’s Hospital. The captain announced, "We are honored to welcome our two heroes, Captain Ali Yusuf and Captain Ali Al Momen, who had a dream to become pilots. Today, that dream is coming true. Let’s give them a round of applause for their strength—we are proud of them!"

Barathan Pasupathi, Chief Executive Officer, Jazeera Airways, said: “At Jazeera Airways, we are dedicated to uplifting the communities we serve. It was an honor to collaborate with NBK to fulfill the hopes of two remarkable boys, Ali Yousef and Ali al Momen. Currently under chemotherapy treatment at the NBK Children’s Hospital, both aspire to be pilots and it was a pleasure to host them on their journey as Captains for the day.”

“As an airline, we are committed to making travel more accessible to all and through this initiative we hope to inspire the dreams and empower the spirits of both these brave young heroes. We eagerly anticipate the day we see them soar as pilots with Jazeera Airways.“, he added.

Joanne Al Abdul Jaleel, NBK’s Public Relations Manager, expressed her pride in the initiative: "Granting Yusuf and Al Momen’s wish to become pilots is yet another success of our 'I Dream to Be' initiative. We are proud work with Jazeera airways and both play a role in bringing joy to these two children and support their dreams in every way we could."

Al Abdul Jaleel added, "The I Dream to Be initiative offers children, including those with life-threatening conditions and special needs, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s our way of spreading happiness and showing that even in difficult situations, there is always hope. We ask the children what they want to be and do our best to make that a reality."

The initiative is part of NBK’s commitment to its social responsibility program and expanding its reach to cover more sustainable programs.  

NBK gives top priority to children through its commitment to corporate social responsibility. NBK works closely with children’s associations in Kuwait to maximize its reach to all the children in Kuwait.

NBK has been at the forefront of supporting Kuwait’s community through a range of initiatives towards education, health, environment and social responsibilities. “I Dream to Be” aims at focusing and supporting NBK’s efforts towards children and addressing their needs as much as possible.