AMADEUS TEAM UP WITH KENYA AIRWAYS, IBERIA AND GTTP TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS
In a remarkable partnership did Amadeus East Africa join hands with Kenya Airways, Iberia and the Global Travel and Tourism Partnership to bring 100 computers to 18 secondary schools and village polytechnics. This initiative is aimed to support the roll out of GTTPs Kenya curriculum which was designed to bring knowledge about tourism to the schools and vocational institutions across the country.
Amadeus, arguably the leading global distribution network, had donated the computers sourced from across Europe and Iberia and Kenya Airways offered free uplift to Nairobi, from where GTTP organized the distribution to the beneficiary institutions. Notably, although in different airline camps, Iberia now merged with British Airways and flying under OneWorld colours while Kenya Airways belongs to the competing SkyTeam, it shows that such differences do not prevent a successful cooperation for a common good, a highly applaudable spirit! The four partners had this to say on completion of this valuable project:
In Kenya, there is no tourism curriculum in schools, commented Joseph Okello, Director at GTTP-Kenya. Tourism is taught as a Geography lesson for only one week in the final year of high school under the local national curriculum. We believe there is an overwhelming need to teach tourism and travel at the secondary school level in Kenya. This would increase general public awareness especially of its positive impact and the role of the host community in tourism.
Titus Naikuni, Group Managing Director & Chief Executive, at Kenya Airways, explained: Kenya Airways does more than transportation. We are keen on partnering with communities. We continuously seek ways to support worthwhile initiatives that contribute to the positive transformation of the African continent. The partnership with Amadeus and Iberia are such initiatives. Kenya Airways will always play a role in the strategic and sustainable development of Africa because we believe sustainable development is a natural prerequisite for business and the development of the people of Africa.
Luis Díaz Güell, Director of Corporate Communication of Iberia, said: We are proud to participate in this initiative, which is part of one of the pillars of the CSR strategy of Iberia, which supports using the tourism industry as a mean for sustainable development in developing countries.
Amadeus draws the contribution from its Global PC Bank, set up to donate hardware towards social development projects. The company also provides mentorship to participant students in the GTTP-K programme, as well as real-time industry information to students and teachers.
Amadeus is always keen to add value and be useful at the community level. We place our sector, travel and tourism, at the core of our CSR strategy because we know we can make a difference, utilising our business resources and expertise to support sustainable development. The GTTP programme is an excellent way for students to broaden their training horizons -it opens up a promising future for their careers in a sector which is crucial for the Kenyan economy, said Claes Berggren, General Manager, Amadeus East Africa.
