U.S. Embassy in Cairo Launches 13th Edition of English Access Program

The U.S. Embassy in Cairo launched the 13th edition of the English Access Microscholarship Program (Access) in different cities in Egypt.

The Access Program provides 13 to 18-year-old students from low-income communities with a foundation in English during two years of after-school classes, instruction, and intensive summer learning activities, according to the American embassy.

Through this program, the young students receive a minimum of 360 hours of instruction in addition to enhancement activities.

Working in partnership with the America-Mideast Educational and Training (Amideast) and American University in Cairo, the American embassy launched the Access Program at a ceremony in Cairo on Monday for 320 students.

The program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of State, also gives young students, who are enrolled in governmental schools and are economically disadvantaged, the opportunity to gain an appreciation for American culture and democratic values, enhance their ability to participate successfully in the socio-economic development of their countries, and improve their chances of participating in U.S. educational and exchange programs.

Speaking to Sada Elbald English (SEE), Regional English Language Officer (RELO) Micah Risher said that the English Access Program is a global program that provides foundational English language skills to bright, young students.

“I am thrilled today to be a part of this program that really does change lives of young people and creates opportunities for further study in Egypt and USA, scholarship’s programs and it brings the whole new world to the kids in Egypt by giving them the access to new information and ideas.”

Risher noted that the embassy sponsored many programs for various different age categories of children and adults to promote the acceptance of cultural differences, build cooperation, and bridge cultural gaps, adding that the students are also competitive for and often participate in future exchanges and study programs in the U.S.

In the same connection, he explained that this program aims at encouraging students to communicate with each other and learn new educational approaches in order to know what is going on in the entire world, what drives the economy, and what job prospects that they might have, noting, "It’s not just about learning English, but of course, learning English is through a framework and also through the persity of cultural experiences."

On her part, Shahinaz Ahmed, Aimedeast/ Egypt Country Director told SEE that the Acess program helps young participants from different backgrounds develop English skills that improve professional and educational prospects.

It's worth mentioning that the American embassy has sponsored the Access Program in Egypt since 2006 and many Egyptian students have received scholarships to date.