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34 | FireFlyz
JOURNEY
Flying High
for Kids
Pursuing one’s dreamwhile fighting
for a good cause is somethingmost of
us could only dreamof, but for Andrew
Parker, hardwork and persistence
put himon a journey across the
world, fighting for children’s rights to
education.
T
urning
back time to
when he was six, Andrew
Parker remembers the
moment he first saw a
hot air balloon cruising
gracefully in the sky.
Attracted to its large size,
bright colours and the way it silently
floated overhead, he knew that he wanted
to be a balloon pilot when he grows up.
And when he made his first flight at
the age of 13, after a balloon landed in his
neighbour’s yard, there was no turning
back for Andrew as he fell in love with
the acquired past time. His passion for
balloons has led him to obtain a private
pilot licence for balloons when he turned
16 and a commercial pilot licence when
he was 19.
Seeing as how the 30-year-old balloon
pilot from Hamilton, New Zealand
learned to fly a balloon before he could
even drive, it was only natural for him to
buy a balloon before buying a car – and
so he did. At the young age of 20, Andrew
bought his own balloon company and
ran it for six years, before selling it off
four years ago to explore a different path.
Andrew has travelled to 38 countries
so far and is looking to increase the
number as time goes by.
Today, Andrew is on a mission to raise
awareness and funds for UNICEF’s efforts
to ensure a better future for children in
this generation by transporting his balloon
across the globe, flying or tethering it at
schools, events and high profile locations
for bigger impact. And here’s his story
so far …
Tell us about Flying High for Kids.
I wanted to do a project involving travel,
ballooning, and doing it for a good cause
ever since I was in my early teens. With
Flying High for Kids, I get to do just that.
I am taking a UNICEF hot air balloon to
over 100 countries to raise awareness and
funds for the good work that they do,
especially in the field of education and
children’s rights to it.
The balloonwill fly or tether at schools,
events and high profile locations. At the
schools, children will write postcards
and take photos for me, which I will
share with other children thoughout my
journey. I am hoping to create a global
community and show children a different
side of life to their own.
There are many other causes that need
support. Why did you choose to work
with children?
UNICEF work from the grassroots level,
all the way up to forming government
policies. They have offices in almost every
country in the world and I think the work
that they are doing is valuable for the
success of the next generation.
What inspired you to start the project?
The combination of flying balloons,
travelling, and doing it for a good cause