US Consulate celebrates graduation of Micro-scholarship Program students

KASUR (Staff Report) - One hundred students, including 50 boys and 50 girls, celebrated their graduation from the English Access Micro-scholarship Program in Kasur.

The two-year intensive language program supported by the US Consulate General in Lahore, in collaboration with Hope Foundation, benefited students at Workers Welfare Schools.

Said Tayyab Yahya, an Access student who participated in the US Embassy-funded NASA Camp in the United States said, “I can interact with anyone confidently, even in front of a large gathering.”

The parents of the students praised the US Department of State for supporting the Access Program in Kasur. The majority of the students’ parents are factory workers who are proud of their children’s accomplishments.

The English Access Micro-scholarship Program (Access) provides a foundation of English language skills to non-elite, 13-20 year old students through after-school classes and intensive learning activities. Access students gain an appreciation for American democratic values, increase their ability to participate successfully in the socio-economic development of their country, and gain the ability to compete for and participate in future US exchange and study programs.

Access includes activities related to US and Pakistani culture, the development of information technology skills, as well as leadership and community service. A selected number of Access students have also been given the opportunity to participate in short exchange programs in the United States.

The US Embassy currently supports 2930 Access students in 25 locations in Pakistan.  Over 11,000 students have graduated from Access programs across Pakistan since 2004. The US Department of State currently supports Access Program in 85 countries around the world.