On Saturday evening, His Highness Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, welcomed seven new members of the Maria Cristina Foundation to celebrate Iftar at Le Royal Meridien Hotel in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

These seven hard-working individuals consist of parents of children that are studying in school, as well as recent graduates of the same school set up by Maria Conceicao in the slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh seven years ago.

With fierce determination to pursue better lives for themselves and their families, these courageous men were rewarded with a flight ticket by Etihad Airways to the UAE for a chance to seek well-paying jobs in this Arabian land of opportunity.

His Highness Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nayhan, who has shown significant support for the Maria Cristina Foundation greeted and spoke with these talented individuals to congratulate and wish them continued success in all their future endeavours.

Maria Conceicao, Founder of the Maria Cristina Foundation, said: “We are extremely humbled to have the continued support of His Highness Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan. He embodies the spirit of Ramadan not just during this Holy season, but throughout the year as well. Inviting us to celebrate Iftar with him at the Ramadan tent has raised the confidence of these seven talented individuals making them believe that anything is possible through hard work, dedication, education and faith.

“Furthermore, we are also grateful to have the support of Etihad Airways and the residents of the UAE. Etihad made it possible to fly these young men to the UAE to search for opportunities to raise the standards of living for both themselves here and their families in Bangladesh. Community is very important in the UAE and we would really appreciate any help received by people, businesses or corporations to help these seven fathers and youngsters seek employment.”

With visit visas granted by His Highness Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and a flight ticket to the UAE by Etihad Airways, the Maria Cristina Foundation takes on the responsibility of raising funds and support to house, feed and groom these men once they arrive until they secure employment in the UAE.

Maria, whilst helping these individuals attain employment, is simultaneously training to climb Mount Everest, to raise US$1 million, which will help secure the future of 600 children that are striving to succeed in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Upon reaching the summit, Maria will be the first Portuguese woman to successfully scale to the top of highest peak in the world.

Established in 2010, The Maria Cristina Foundation is an organisation based in Dubai providing premium secondary education to slum-dwellers’ children. Maria also believes in trying to break the cycle of poverty by giving their parents marketable skills for employment.

Till date, the Maria Cristina Foundation provides education for over 600 students, 101 of parents, and have positively affected the lives of over 32 families both in Dubai, UAE.

For more information or to support the Maria Cristina Foundation, please visit: http://mariacristinafoundation.org/

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