Etihad Airways and Abu Dhabi non-profit social organisation Monyati Initiative partner to empower underprivileged women in Kashmir, Pakistan

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 2013-11-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has teamed up once again with the Monyati Initiative, an Abu Dhabi based non-profit social development organisation, to empower underprivileged women in Kashmir, Pakistan.

Etihad Airways and Monyati donated sewing machines and sewing packages to the KDRC Vocational Sewing Centre for women.

Set up in 2009 with support from Monyati, the KDRC Vocational Sewing Centre provides free education and vocational training to empower young Pakistani women to run their own small businesses.

Sewing courses are offered to girls and young women to introduce them to the basics of sewing, cutting, hand stitching and embroidery. All courses are taught by certified teachers and last for six months. Upon the successful completion of their training, students are given a certificate and a sewing machine to embark on their own business venture.

Amer Khan, Etihad Airways’ General Manager in Pakistan, said: “Corporate and individual philanthropy is an important part of our CSR strategy. This project is a continuation of all our previous work in Pakistan and where we aim to empower these young women both socially and economically.”

Monja Wolf, the founder and managing director of Monyati Initiatives, said: “We are pleased to partner up with Etihad Airways for this great cause.  More than 500 young women have benefited from this course to date. We are delighted to have helped these young women gain the skills needed for them to be able to support themselves and their families, and even more importantly, helped them gain confidence and independence.”

Etihad Airways has worked previously with the Monyati initiative on a number of projects to   support underprivileged children and families in India, Brazil, Madagascar, Bangladesh, and Sudan.

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About Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, began operations in 2003, and in 2012 carried 10.3 million passengers. From its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad Airways offers flights to 97 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas, with a fleet of 86 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and over 220 aircraft on firm order, including 71 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, 25 Boeing 777-X, 62 Airbus A350s, and 10 Airbus A380s, the world’s largest passenger aircraft. Etihad Airways holds equity investments in airberlin, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia, Aer Lingus and Jet Airways.  Subject to regulatory approval, Etihad Airways will launch a new airline brand in Q1 2014, Etihad Regional, after taking a 33.3 per cent stake in Swiss carrier Darwin Airline. The airline will also acquire 49 per cent of Air Serbia from January 2014.  For more information, please visit: www.etihad.com