Atlanta Summer Reading Programme Takes Off With Qatar Airways

16/05/2016 16:53

ATLANTA, May 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, 500 students each received their first book for the summer, courtesy of Qatar Airways and Atlanta Public Schools (APS), to kick-start the "School's Out, Reading Is In!" programme. Qatar Airways Cabin Crew and staff from the Americas office visited APS' Heritage Academy to gift the books and share stories with elementary students on how important reading – and travelling – is to expanding personal horizons.

The "School's Out, Reading Is In!" programme inspires students to maintain their academic progress through the summer holiday by providing each student from K-5 grades with books, grade-appropriate. Qatar Airways is partnering with APS to support this endeavor, and to further inspire students to explore the world through reading.

"At Qatar Airways, we believe in the power of travel to expand our understanding of the world," said Qatar Airways' Vice President of the Americas, Mr. Gunter Saurwein. "A love of reading is the first step in cultivating a life of exploration, and the Atlanta Public Schools' programme is a powerful contribution to these students' development. When these students are older, we will be ready to make their dreams come true by flying them around the world, so they can experience the worlds they read about this summer."

Qatar Airways' Cabin Crew, representing 6 cultures from around the world, visited with students to discuss summer travel, their home countries and read with them. They also shared their favourite travel stories. Students then broke into groups to read their first summer book together. Cabin Crew then gave each student a mini soccer balls from FC Barcelona, the soccer team which Qatar Airways is the primary sponsor, to start their summer break.

Also in attendance was Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Meria Carstarphen to mark the occasion and speak with media. "Helping elementary school students build strong reading skills is fundamental to ensuring students graduate college and career ready," added Carstarphen. "We are grateful for partners like Qatar Airways who provide resources and volunteers who inspire our students to develop a love for life-long reading."

Qatar Airways is committed to inspiring a love of education, travel and other cultures in each of the communities the airline serves. Qatar Airways is also the official communications ambassador for the Education Above All foundation's "Educate a Child" global programme.

Launched in November 2012, by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser of Qatar, Educate A Child (EAC) is a global programme of the Education Above All Foundation (EAA) that aims to significantly reduce the number of children worldwide who are denied their right to education.

EAC is, at its heart, is a commitment to children who are out of school to help provide them with opportunities to learn and as such, it contributes to the UN's Global Education First Initiative and the Millennium Development Goal 2.

Qatar Airways serves thousands of young passengers each day, en route to over 150 destinations around the world. As part of the airline's award-winning inflight service, every aircraft is equipped with state-of-the-art entertainment systems, such as interactive games and educational programs, designed for younger audiences and even toddlers. Baby TV, a new feature on board most flights, even helps sooth and relax the world's youngest travelers, on overnight flights. To learn more about how Qatar Airways accommodates young travelers, please visit qatarairways.com.

About Qatar Airways:
Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of Qatar, is one of the fastest growing airlines operating one of the youngest fleets in the world. Now in its 19th year of operations, Qatar Airways has a modern fleet of 184 aircraft flying to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations across six continents. Qatar Airways won Airline of the Year, Best Business Class Airline Seat and Best Airline in the Middle East at the 2015 Skytrax Awards. This is the third time the airline won the accolade of Airline of the Year.

Qatar Airways is a member of the oneworld global alliance. The award-winning alliance was named the World's Best Airline Alliance 2015 by Skytrax for the third year running. Qatar Airways was the first Gulf carrier to join global airline alliance, oneworld, enabling its passengers to benefit from more than 1,000 airports in more than 150 countries, with 14,250 daily departures.

In 2015 Qatar Airways launched Oryx One, an enhanced interface for its inflight entertainment system, increasing the number of movies and TV shows on board from 950 to up to 3,000. Passengers flying on Qatar Airways flights served by its B787, A350, A380, A319 as well as select A320 and A330 aircraft can also stay in touch with their friends and family around the world by using the five-star airline's on-board Wifi and GSM service.

Qatar Airways Cargo, the world's third largest cargo carrier, serves more than 50 exclusive freighter destinations worldwide via its Doha hub and also delivers freight to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations globally on 184 aircraft. The Qatar Airways Cargo fleet now includes eight Airbus 330, nine Boeing 777 freighters and two Boeing 747 freighters.

For more information, visit our homepage www.qatarairways.com or our sites on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, and YouTube.

For Qatar Airways corporate images, please click here: http://www.qatarairways.com/corporateimages

For further information contact:
Qatar Airways Group, Corporate Communications Department
Tel: +974 40222072, Fax: +974 40225350
E-mail: qrmedia@qatarairways.com.qa
Visit our homepage www.qatarairways.com or our sites on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, and YouTube.
For Qatar Airways corporate images, please click here: http://www.qatarairways.com/corporateimages

About Atlanta Public Schools
Atlanta Public Schools is one of the largest school districts in the state of Georgia, serving 50,000 students across 98 learning sites. The district is organized into nine K-12 clusters with 87 schools, 16 charter schools and two citywide single-gender academies, where students are offered rigorous instructional programs that foster success in school and life. For more information, visit www.atlantapublicschools.us

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