Airline To Build New Schools For 1,500 Children To Support China Youth Development Foundation's Project Hope

Beijing, China (June 20, 2008) /China Newswire/ — Qatar Airways will fund two schools to educate children affected by the recent earthquake in Sichuan province, which caused massive devastation and loss of life. At a signing ceremony held at the offices of China Youth Development Foundation (CYDF) in the Chinese capital of Beijing today, Qatar Airways formally committed funds towards the project.

The undisclosed donation to CYDF's Project Hope will facilitate the building of new education facilities that will accommodate up to 500 children, whose schools were destroyed in last month's earthquake. The donation will also support the erection of prefabricated buildings to be used as temporary classrooms (will accommodate up to 1000 children) while the permanent school is constructed, said by Ms. Gu Xiaojin, the Executive Chairman of CYDF.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker, deeply touched by the level of destruction caused by the quake, approached CYDF with an offer to provide financial support for the affected children.

"The devastation in Sichuan province has occurred on a massive scale," he said. "It was a terrible tragedy and many thousands of people lost their lives. But the survivors are also affected, as whole towns and villages were completely destroyed and people now have to re-build their lives from nothing.

"Over 7,000 classrooms were destroyed as a result of the earthquake, leaving those children who survived with nowhere to learn. We decided the best way the airline could help with the rebuilding efforts was to fund the construction of a school for children who have been left stranded," added Al Baker.

"We can offer hope to those children who are in desperate need. Education is their key to the future and it is our responsibility as compassionate humanitarians to do what we can to help."

Qatar Airways Senior Manager Commercial Operations East Asia & South West Pacific Marwan Koleilat and Qatar Airways Regional Manager Greater China Paul Johannes attended the ceremony held to recognise the airline's efforts. Koleilat spoke of Qatar Airways' pledge to help the needy as part the airline's social responsibility role.

"We are committed to the rebuilding process taking place in Sichuan Province. I hope that this gesture will change the lives for the better, as many children have been affected by the devastation, "said Koleilat.

The State of Qatar and People's Republic of China are celebrating 20 years of diplomatic relations in 2008. Warm bilateral ties between the two nations have seen increases in trade and industry in recent years.

Qatar Airways currently operates 21 scheduled flights a week from its hub in Doha, capital of the State of Qatar, to China. The capital Beijing is served four times a week; Shanghai five weekly; Hong Kong daily; and Guangzhou with five flights a week.

In March the airline launched services to the southern industrial port city of Guangzhou. CEO Akbar Al Baker led a delegation on a tour of China, where he officially opened Qatar Airways' new sales and reservations offices in Beijing, Shanghai as well as Guangzhou, rounding off launch activities in Guangzhou, where he briefed a packed press conference on the airline's development in China.

Qatar Airways is one of an elite group of carriers with a Five Star ranking for service and excellence awarded by Skytrax, the independent aviation industry research company. Skytrax also named Qatar Airways' cabin crew as Best in the Middle East for the fifth year running in 2007 following a survey of more than 15 million passengers. During the 2007/08 financial year, Qatar Airways expects to have carried around 10 million passengers worldwide. For more information, log onto www.qatarairways.com

Qatar Airways will operate a fleet of 110 aircraft by 2013 – almost double the existing size. During 2007, Qatar Airways ordered 80 Airbus A350s, together with 60 Boeing 787s and 32 Boeing 777s. The airline has ordered five of the twin-deck Airbus A380 ‘super jumbos' for delivery from 2010. Qatar Airways moves to the New Doha International Airport in 2010, when the first phase of the new facility opens. For more information, visit www.ndiaproject.com

The China Youth Development Foundation (CYDF), a non-governmental and non-profit organisation, was founded in Beijing in March 1989. The CYDF has devoted itself to the well-being and development of Chinese youth, primarily with regards to education, science and technology, culture, physical education, health, and environmental protection.

The CDYF's main programme, Project Hope, seeks to help China's poverty-stricken rural children continue their schooling. Project Hope has been involved in the building of over 3,000 schools since it was established.

 


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