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Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Air Greenland joins the Sunflower program

Starting today, on the 'UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities', Air Greenland introduces the “Sunflower Lanyard”. This pleases not only Air Greenland but also the Disability Advocate in Greenland, as the string puts focus on inclusion and accessibility for people with invisible disabilities

 

Air Greenland became the first Greenlandic company to join the Sunflower program back in April 2024, and has since then worked to ensure that its frontline employees in check-in and cabin crew on board the planes see the educational video explaining the importance of the Sunflower Cord. They have now acknowledged that they have seen and understood what the laynard stands for, and now Air Greenland can finally share the good news with the world. 

 

The person wearing the Sunflower Lanyard signals that they have a disability that is not immediately visible. This can be mental or neurological challenges, such as ADHD, autism, chronic pain, epilepsy or hearing loss. These are covered by the term invisible disability, which is often overlooked or misunderstood by those around them.

 

The Sunflower program is a global initiative that aims to make invisible disabilities or diagnoses more visible, and the program was originally targeted mostly at airports and airlines. Now Air Greenland can join the program as the 19th airline globally.

 

Several people are happy about this, including the Nordic Operations Manager for HD Sunflower in Scandinavia 

Kathrine Drastrup HD Sunflower

"At Solsikken, we are pleased that Air Greenland has become a member, so both employees and travelers can feel safe if they have an invisible disability. We are happy that Air Greenland will help us spread awareness of invisible disabilities and Solsikken," Kathrine Drastrup, Nordic Operations Manager in Scandinavia.

Air Greenland's sunflower lanyard

Sustainability Consultant in the Department of Sustainability and Communication, Qillaq Olsen, explains that Air Greenland wanted to be part of the Sunflower program for some time.

G65A6301 Edit

"As part of one of our sustainability initiatives, a working group was set up in 2023 to look at diversity and inclusion in the workplace. When a course was to be held for frontline employees in the fall, it was natural to put the Sunflower cord on the agenda.  These are the people who meet our customers on a daily basis, so it's important that they know the importance of the string. And now they do,” Qillaq says about the process.

However, they are not alone. Because when the effort to get the Sunflower implemented, it was important to get as many people as possible in Air Greenland to become familiar with its importance. Therefore, the focus has also been on the internal communication efforts.

 

"As the first step in the process, we produced a Sunflower lanyard for the employees. It has helped break the taboo about invisible disabilities, and some of our colleagues have welcomed it", says Qillaq Olsen.

I have a special need

One of them is Air Greenland employee Alfred Olsvig. When he read about the Sunflower program on Air Greenland's intranet earlier this year, he realized he had a special need. 

IMG 5455

"When I read about the project, I realized that I also have an invisible disability. I have hearing loss and therefore wear a hearing aid. The lanyard can help me in situations where communication with other people has been challenging at times. I hope that the lanyard will help in the future and signal that I have a special need", he says and continues:

 

"I think it's a great initiative by Air Greenland to show consideration for people with invisible disabilities. I will gladly wear the lanyard if needed and see no shame in having to use it. It's okay to have a disability", Alfred points out.

His message captures the purpose of wearing the Sunflower Lanyard. 

 

"Alfred's message is the heart of the matter. We want to promote a culture where people with invisible disabilities are met with understanding and patience. Talking openly about this and mental health can improve well-being, especially for the person with the invisible disability,” says Qillaq Olsen.

Happy disability advocate

Now Air Greenland can spread the message outside the company and one of those who is pleased with today's announcement is Anja Hynne Nielsen, disability advocate at the disability advocacy institution Tilioq. She and the institution are tasked with securing and promoting the interests of people with disabilities in society based on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

 

"I am pleased that the Sunflower Lanyard is now being launched in Greenland by Air Greenland. When I, as a disability advocate in close collaboration with NIIK, Pissassarfik and then Air Greenland, started the process of bringing the Sunflower Lanyard to Greenland, it was because it can make a big difference for people with invisible disabilities", says Anja Hynne Nielsen and continues:

Anja Hynne Nielsen

"Not only in terms of making travel safer, but also because the concept will strengthen inclusion and inclusiveness throughout society. Air Greenland leading this effort is an important milestone, but I hope that many other companies will follow. The sunflower lanyard is an internationally recognized concept, and it is a good idea to launch it just as Greenland opens up more to the world on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities", concludes Anja Hynne Nielsen, Disability Spokesperson, Tilioq.

As Air Greenland is now a member of the Sunflower program, the airline has purchased a batch of Sunflower strings, which have just landed in Nuuk. These will now be distributed at Air Greenland's stations in the airports; Nuuk, Ilulissat, Sisimiut, Narsarsuaq and Upernavik and are free for our passengers.

 

At Copenhagen Airport, you can approach airport staff who have green shirts.

Læs mere Københavns lufthavne (OBS - kun dansk og engelsk
For at få mere information om Solsikkeprogrammet eller Solsikkesnoren kan du vide mere om det her:

Useful links

If you need more information or have questions, you can refer to Tilioq:

Tilioq

Useful links:

 https://www.facebook.com/solsikkeprogrammet/ 

 https://www.instagram.com/solsikkeprogrammet/

 https://www.linkedin.com/company/solsikkeprogrammet/

 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSkNa22wphcdVb_j4Sn9Suw