Andrew Parker’s Flying High for Kids Project is a five-year initiative in which he flies around the world in a hot-air balloon and speaks up for children and their right to education.
"Since the age of six I dreamt of being a hot air balloon pilot and I achieved my dream at the age of 19," says Parker, 33.
"This is what I want to tell children, to pursue their dreams. I want to share my story to inspire them."
Born and raised in Hamilton, New Zealand, Parker became his country’s youngest commercial hot air balloon pilot.
"I had the idea of flying for a cause back in my early teenagers and it has stayed with me ever since," he says.
"I started planning in 2010 and it was a dream come true when the project started in 2013.
"Many of the kids we meet have never seen a hot-air balloon before and it brings me a lot of satisfaction to see the smiles on their faces."
After selling his commercial hot air balloon business in his homeland a few years ago, Parker has invested more than Dhs 1.1 million to fund the project. Since it began he has flown his balloon in 50 countries. In that time, Parker has found that children are the same the world over. The project is to end late next year after taking in another 50 or so countries in his balloon - which stands nine storeys high and can carry three people - at a personal cost to Parker of about USD 200,000.
TheNational