Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Etihad Airways, the National Airline of the United Arab Emirates, has recognised UN World Refugee Day by unveiling education initiatives and donating urgent supplies for Syrian refugees in Mrajeeb Al Fhood Camp in Jordan.
- Donation of food and
education supplies in refugee camp
- Baking workshops for
refugee women, to hep earn income
- Clothing, blankets
and bed covers delivered to meet urgent need
World Refugee Day is marked on 20 June every year to focus
attention on the millions of refugees and internally-displaced persons
worldwide, who have been forced to flee their homes due to war, conflict and
persecution.
As part of its commitment to support humanitarian causes, the
airline opened the Etihad Airways Learning and Development Centre to provide refugee
children with IT and computer skills, to help equip them for the future.
Etihad also distributed books, bags and stationery to 2,400
children in the camp, as part of an ongoing program to help support education among
underprivileged groups.
The airline also launched the Etihad
Tolerance Bakery an initiative for the UAE ‘Year of Tolerance’, to develop
professional baking skills among refugee women in the Jordan camp, and help
them to earn income from bakery sales.
Etihad onboard chefs hosted baking
workshops and conducted cooking challenges for the women, providing prizes and
cooking equipment to winners and participants.
Additionally, Etihad has also teamed up
with Emirates Red Crescent and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
International Cooperation to donate relief items including garments, blankets,
amenity kits and dry foods to families in the camp.
The airline also distributed 1,000 bed
covers to the camp’s field hospital, which provides medical care to refugees.
Members of Etihad senior management, Etihad Youth Council, and volunteering
delegations from Emirates Red Crescent and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International
Cooperation, also engaged with the children and the camp residents in a range
of entertainment activities.
Khaled Al Mehairbi, Honorary Chairman of Corporate Social
Responsibility Programme, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “We are committed to
helping these children to continue their education journey, to help secure a
better future and fully integrate in the community.
“Education is the cornerstone for developing any community, and by
supporting their education opportunities, we can invest in the future of these
children and help to protect them from falling prey to human trafficking or
terror. I would like to thank our partners and volunteering staff who joined us
to participate in these events and deliver supplies. Their efforts and time have
been well-spent in serving this noble cause.”
Previously, Etihad Airways has provided education supplies and
helped to renovate schools in countries including India, Kenya, Serbia,
Philippines, Bosnia, Uganda, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.