A non-profit organisation dedicated to the education and empowerment of girls towards the aviation industry is what Girls In Aviation Qatar is all about!
The ILoveQatar.net (ILQ) team tells you about Ashley and the concept behind Girls In Aviation Qatar initiative.
Ashley Brantley is an American expatriate living in Qatar for over three years.
Ashley has served in the American Navy as an Air Traffic Controller for 6 years. She currently serves in the same role at Hamad International Airport, which explains her keen interest in the aviation industry.
Her time in Qatar has helped her grow in the social media scene and contribute to many community initiatives, out of which 'Girls In Aviation Qatar' is one.
To learn more about Ashley Brantley, read - Get to know the lady leading a donation drive for Afghan refugees in Qatar!
Given the clear dominance of males in the aviation industry, Ashley identified that one of the main reasons was due to the lack of awareness that girls had regarding the aviation industry and the possible career or hobbies they could pursue.
Be it pilots, air traffic controllers, or any other position in aviation, the start of girls pursuing such roles would be by educating them and triggering an interest.
By giving more knowledge and first-hand experiences, Ashley hopes to help girls grow in the aviation industry.
Girls In Aviation Qatar operates as a non-profit organisation that offers free-of-cost aviation edutainment experiences to young girls.
In October 2022, Ashley executed the organisation's first event called 'Flight Night' in collaboration with Aviator Lounge.
The event allowed young girls to experience flying a Boeing 737 simulator aircraft under the supervision of a professional pilot, eventually rewarding them with a certificate of completion.
If any of the girls missed the dedicated simulator session, they were given gift vouchers to experience it in their own time. All of the participants were also treated to a goodie bag.
Ashley disclosed that more events are lined up for 'Girls In Aviation Qatar', including the involvement of other aviation communities, such as the Qatar Flying Club, Qatar R/C Sport Center and Aviator Lounge.
She aims to provide girls with a hands-on experience with introductory flights, drones and more with the support of these entities.
Currently, the program is targeted towards girls aged between 8 to 18 years old. As per Ashley, this is the ideal time that the girls can fully grasp their interests and be actively involved.
However, Ashley did express that she would like to curate programs that cater to younger girls in the future.
The best way to stay informed and participate in the events and programs is to keep up to date with Girls In Aviation Qatar's social media, as all the details will be available in due course.
Cover image credit: Ashley Brantley
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