In Cairo, a ceremony took place on February 25 where U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Stephen Beecroft awarded scholarship certificates to a new group of Access English students. The scholarships offer two years of English language classes and extracurricular activities for Egyptian youth across the country. Since its inception in 2006, over 2,600 Egyptian high school students have graduated from the Access Program.
“You are entering a program that will help you gain useful tools for a better future,” stated Ambassador Beecroft to the 684 young Egyptian students selected for the U.S. Department of State-supported Access Scholarship to learn English. “Not only will the program help you become a fluent English speaker, it will also provide the opportunity to practice job skills such as interviewing, to enhance your computer expertise, and to gain experience working in teams on community service projects.”
Former students of the Access Program also attended the event, sharing their experiences and motivating new participants. One graduate recounted how his time in the English course aided him in securing employment with an international company (Vodafone) and equipped him with skills necessary for promotion.
The Embassy’s Regional English Language Office (RELO) awards these scholarships annually under the global English Access Microscholarship Program. In Egypt, classes are conducted by three implementing partners: the American University in Cairo, AMIDEAST, and E-ERA.