Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays have launched a new programme to encourage young people’s engagement with STEM careers.
The scheme has been launched in conjunction with WE Charity, an international educational programme and the companies’ charity partner.
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The three-year Passport to Change programme will use WE’s science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) resources and aim to increase students’ problem solving, critical thinking, planning and leadership skills.
Passport to Change will launch in Thomas Bennet Community College in Crawley, Pentrehafod School in Swansea, and Luther J Price Middle School in Atlanta, and hopes to reach more than 1,000 students by the end of 2022.
Virgin’s staff will be part of the programme and help deliver career talks, workshops and one-to-one mentoring, the company said.
In time, we aim to bring Passport to Change to all the communities we work in and fly to
– Shai Weiss, Virgin Atlantic
In a statement, a Virgin spokesperson said: “The Passport to Change programme is part of a wider initiative at the airline to encourage more women and young people to pursue STEM and aviation careers.”
Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, said: “We are proud to be working with our long-term charity partner, WE, on Passport to Change and investing in the communities in which we live and work.
“There is a global shortage of STEM skills and we want to help young people build the skills they need for the future while increasing their engagement with these core subjects. In time, we aim to bring Passport to Change to all the communities we work in and fly to.”
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Marc Kielburger, Co-Founder of WE, said: “Virgin Atlantic and WE have been proud partners since 2010. It’s thanks to their support that we could bring WE Schools to the UK, now active in over 3000 UK schools. I’m so excited for this next phase of our partnership.
“As well as having a huge impact on the students involved, Passport to Change exemplifies how a charity and corporate partner can truly collaborate to evolve their relationship. Although we’ve been partners for a decade, this is the start of a new beginning for WE and Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays.”