What we do
we help seriously ill children to heal and grow up, through a flight
Who we help
Every ill child has different needs and not everyone can travel in the same way. Pathology and distance to travel are fundamental variables.
We work together with local organisations to collect all the necessary documentation in order to proceed and organise the air transfer in an optimal way, remaining an operational reference point in case of necessity and support, until the moment of arrival at the destination, both for the outward and return journey. We organize the safest and most suitable transport solution for each of our young patients.
Sick children
Airline ticket
There are pathologies that give children the opportunity to board an airline but we must ensure that there are as few stops and waits as possible.
We finance two ways tickets for
1 child up to 18 years in Italy and worldwide
1 companion (parent or legal guardian)
Critically ill children
Airline with medical assistance
In some cases, children who are departing are in critical conditions and need medical assistance even during the trip.
We finance two ways tickets for
1 child up to 18 years in Italy and worldwide
1 companion (parent or legal guardian)
1 doctor to assist during the trip
Very serious and urgent cases
Air ambulance
For some, a normal flight is impossible. The only possibility is a flight with medical equipment and medical personnel to assist the child.
We finance two ways tickets for
1 child up to 18 years in Italy and worldwide
1 companion (parent or legal guardian)
Healthcare staff for assistance and monitoring during the trip
Children in developing countries
Medical teams
For those who live in countries with poor medical facilities, the only salvation is the medical teams who leave with humanitarian missions to intervene directly on site.
We finance two ways tickets for
From 2 to 5 doctors, part of the medical team, with different specializations
The unique stories of our children
Every child, every story, remains in our hearts.
We intervene in decisive moments for the lives of seriously ill children and their families and decisive is the contribution of those who, through a donation, make their only hope possible through a flight to the hospital.
Their stories become your stories: that's why we share with you as much as possible, every contact, every update.
We and them, together, thank you for your special support!
La procedura operativa
In compliance with the values of transparency and fairness, a standard has been developed and formalized, in the way in which every request for support received from organizations operating in childcare, in the world, is approached. The resulting process also allows for maximum effectiveness and efficiency in the relationship with all stakeholders
Case reporting
Flying Angels Foundation receives the report of a child in need of air transport in order to be treated by national and international organisations that deal with childhood care. More rarely from hospitals or directly from families.
Documentation
Submission to the Scientific Committee
The case, the clinical history of the child supported by all the documentation collected, is brought to the attention of the Scientific Committee for an accurate and timely evaluation based on the criteria of seriousness, urgency and non-operability on site.
Evaluation
In a short period of time, it provides feedback on the eligibility of the case, based on the file received and, possibly, on any additional documents requested.
Case reporting
Documentation
Submission to the Scientific Committee
Evaluation
In a short period of time, it provides feedback on the eligibility of the case, based on the file received and, possibly, on any additional documents requested.
Positive outcome: the flight
Assistance and support
L’operativo voli rimane il punto di riferimento per eventuale assistenza fino all’arrivo dei bambini e degli accompagnatori alla destinazione, per il viaggio di andata e di ritorno.
Se necessario, fornisce anche supporto per il rilascio dei visti.
Negative outcome
Positive outcome: the flight
Following approval from the Scientific Committee, the Flight Operation Officer proceeds to purchase tickets, in collaboration with affiliated agencies that work to identify the most suitable trip to protect the health of children.
Negative outcome
The Flight Operator Officer communicates to the applicant non-profit organisation the ineligibility of the case and the impossibility to proceed with the financing of the flights for which the request was submitted.
Assistance and support
The Flight Operation Officer remains the reference point for any assistance until the arrival of the children and their companions at the destination, both for the outward and return journeys. If necessary, it also provides support for the issuance of visas by Italian consulates through a "green channel" granted by the Farnesina.
Fundraising activities
Flying Angels Foundation bases its work - in terms of purchasing air flights - purely on fundraising activities, the outcome of which constitutes and finances the Flight Emergency Fund. The various collection methods are accompanied by constant networking activities, aimed to make the foundation known and to establish lasting, continuous relationships based on trust, transparency and core value sharing.
Here below are the main sources of the funds raised:
dati da ultimo bilancio approvato, anno 2022
%
Individuals
%
Events
%
Corporate
%
Foundations
%
Private entities
%
5x1000
Transparency is important to us
Flying Angels Foundation’s main goal is to protect the right of healthcare for seriously ill children and, in concrete terms, to purchase air tickets to allow them access to the necessary facilities for treatment as well as medical teams to travel and operate locally, where the need is greater.
FAQ
We hope we can answer all your questions here below.
For more information do not hesitate to contact us.
Do you finance tickets for children only?
Flying Angels finances round trip tickets for one child and one travel companion. In the event that the child’s health is particularly delicate, Flying Angels will also finance the air fare for the doctor who has to assist the child during his or her trip.
How is each case approved?
Once the request of assistance has been received, a whole series of medical and administrative documents are collected by the Foundation and, at the same time, a specifically created document, the Eligibility Form, which summarizes all the key health information on the child's case, is compiled. The dossier is submitted to the Scientific Committee, which is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to be carefully examined. On the basis of this analysis and the criteria of urgency, seriousness and non-operability on site, the eventual approval takes place.
How do you buy the tickets?
Once the Scientific Committee authorizes a case, the purchase of tickets takes place in collaboration with affiliated agencies who are in charge of organizing the most suitable trip to protect the child’s health. The flights with the best times, which allow as few stopovers as possible and which guarantee that children arrive on time for hospitalization, are selected. No discounted rates or free miles are available. Tickets are purchased at full price and where there is no free change, the penalties for the change are also applied and incurred. In fact, it may happen that children need to stay longer than expected in the hospital and have to postpone the return for clinical reasons.
How do the departing doctors’ flights work?
The humanitarian missions of doctors or teams who leave to operate in high-risk countries can apply for support in financing their flights. In this case, doctors are required to submit the same documentation as per procedure, together with a list of children (with related medical certificates) in need to be operated on site, and the letter of acceptance by the host health facility. In this case too, Flying Angels finances the tickets upon the Scientific Committee approval and no other expenses such as accommodation.
Who reports sick children?
Children who need to fly long distances to receive life saving treatment are mainly reported by international and national non-profit organizations, who work within the pediatric health care system. In some cases, reports can also come from hospitals, doctors or directly from families.
Who is responsible for health costs, hospitalization and accommodation for accompanying persons?
The organizations who send requests for help
- take care of carrying out the bureaucratic and organizational paperwork,
- undertake to cover all expenses for hospitalization, medical and surgical treatments,
- make sure that the costs for the accommodation of the child and the travel companion during and after hospitalization are covered.
The documentation certifying the hospitalization authorization and the taking over of expenses (or the payment of deposits by the organizations) is part of the documentation required for the assessment and possible approval of the case.
Do all the children come to Italy?
Flying Angels does not have any borders and operates with regards to the criteria of: urgency, seriousness and whether it is non-operable on site. Case reports are made through national and international non-profit organizations and the destination of the flight is decided based on the child's medical history. Many routes are to Italy, but more and more new routes are inaugurated, worldwide.
What does Flying Angels not do?
Flying Angels does not take care of:
- flights for check-ups and screening missions;
- identifying and contacting healthcare facilities;
- covering the costs of healthcare expenses and for the stay of the child and the travel companion;
- finding any healthcare figure for in flight assistance if/when needed.
