ATLANTA, United States – Yesterday, 500 students each received their first book for the summer, courtesy of Qatar Airways and the Atlanta Public Schools, to kick-start the “School’s Out, Reading Is In!” programme. Qatar Airways Cabin Crew and staff from the Americas office visited the Heritage Academy Elementary School to gift the books and share stories with the children 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 the Atlanta Public Schools 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 places they read about this summer.”

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

Also in attendance was Atlanta Public School 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 are career ready,” added Dr. 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 more than 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 travellers, on overnight flights. To learn more about how Qatar Airways accommodates young travellers, please visit qatarairways.com.