Qatar Airways has announced its support for the Qatar Friendship Fund (QFF), a Qatari initiative established in 2012 to support relief efforts in Japan following the 2011 earthquake, by sponsoring the Elem Project, an experience-based educational program run by Junior Achievement Japan and the two municipalities of Iwaki and Sendai.
The Elem project facilities, Student City and Finance Park, are designed to give students in Japan the opportunity to experience life lessons and gain skills that will be crucial to them in the future. QFF is chaired by HE Qatar's Ambassador to Japan Yousef Bilal with the support of an advisory committee based in Japan.
Qatar Airways is supporting the Elem Project through the installation of two educational booths in Iwaki and Sendai respectively. Student City and Finance Park, which have been established in support of QFF, are designed as mock towns with various businesses inside the facilities. Students will have the opportunity to visit the various establishments and role-play as adults while learning life lessons and developing useful skills related to day-to-day tasks such as banking, budgeting, travel and shopping.
"Qatar Airways is very happy to be able to support the on-going efforts of the Qatar Friendship Fund. It is our belief that development of programs, which educate children on useful life skills, will benefit them immensely, not just in the future, but even now in their day-to-day lives. We are strong believers in education and are proud to be associated with such a worthwhile project," said Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker.
The airline is set to have one booth each in Finance Park in Iwaki and Sendai respectively. The Iwaki facility opened at the end of May, followed by commencement of the Sendai facility in August.
Finance Park will focus on 8th grade students, and will require them to take on the role of the budget controller within a family. Students will be tasked with making purchases at the shop-like booths all while keeping in mind their household budgets and family living conditions.
Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in its 17 years of operation. It now flies a modern fleet of 134 aircraft to 143 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.