• Volunteers with Etihad Airways’ Colour Their Lives initiative distribute care packages at the centre for asylum seekers in Krnja, Serbia. Christopher Pike / The National
    Volunteers with Etihad Airways’ Colour Their Lives initiative distribute care packages at the centre for asylum seekers in Krnja, Serbia. Christopher Pike / The National
  • Refugees attend the Colour Their Lives event on Wednesday. Christopher Pike / The National
    Refugees attend the Colour Their Lives event on Wednesday. Christopher Pike / The National
  • Refugees wait to receive care packages. Christopher Pike / The National
    Refugees wait to receive care packages. Christopher Pike / The National
  • A refugee girl at the event. Christopher Pike / The National
    A refugee girl at the event. Christopher Pike / The National

Charity brings joy to lives of refugees


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Throughout the week, a team of volunteers from Etihad Airways has been in Serbia on a charity mission to bring joy to orphans, refugees and disabled people.

As part of the Colour Their Lives initiative, the volunteers handed out airline blankets, winter clothing, stationery, food and other gifts, first at an orphanage and then at an asylum seeker’s centre near Belgrade.

The refugees at the centre – many of whom had risked their lives escaping Syria and Afghanistan – were treated to ­entertainment featuring clowns, choirs and folk dances, before receiving their gifts.

Volunteer Muna Al Blooshi, an Emirati mother of three, said interacting with the children in the camp had been a life-changing experience.

“I know these children need a lot of things, but they are happy playing around and satisfied with simple things,” said the Etihad graduate manager.

“I give my children the world and they are still not happy or satisfied.”

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