Eighty economically disadvantaged students complete English Access Microscholarship Program conducted by US Consulate Kolkata

Samaritan Help Mission’s collaboration with the U.S. Consulate General Kolkata started in 2015 with a grant for a program for 100 students, followed by another grant in 2018, and the third grant in 2021. 

The graduation ceremony was held today at Samaritan Help Mission in Howrah.  

The graduates received certificates signed by Ambassador Elizabeth Jones, the Charge d’ Affaires for the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, and handed over by Guest of Honor, Juan Clar, Assistant Public Affairs Officer and Deputy Director of the American Center, U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata, in the presence of Founder of the school Mamoon Akhtar. 

Speaking at the event, Clar said, “Increasing the skills of youth is good not only for them, but also for their families, their communities, for India, and beyond.” 

The classes were led by four English language teaching professionals who used a learner-centered communicative language teaching approach.

To ensure the quality of teaching, they received regular professional development by an expert trainer as well as multiple training opportunities provided by RELO. 

The English Access Microscholarship Program is a U.S. State Department-sponsored global initiative that provides English communication skills to talented students from socio-economically disadvantaged communities and includes activities focused on volunteerism, leadership skills, global awareness, and developing an appreciation of Indian and American democratic principles so that participants are better able to successfully compete for opportunities in higher education and the job market.

English Access Microscholarship Program is funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and is managed by the Regional English Language Office (RELO) in New Delhi in conjunction with the Public Diplomacy Sections in Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Mumbai.

Since its launch in India in 2004, Access has reached over 100,000 students. Currently, there are 1,800 students enrolled in the program. At this point, there are 24 different program sites located across the country.

Access alumni are regularly selected for other U.S. Government exchange opportunities, including the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program, the Benjamin Franklin Program, and the Community College Initiative Program (CCIP).

In addition, both teachers and students are eligible to participate in other ECA exchange programs specifically designed for Access alumni. In 2014, 27 Indian Access teachers and students joined an equal number of Pakistani students and teachers in a three-week U.S. Cultural Immersion Program.

This was followed by an Indo-Afghan leadership camp for Access students and two media-advocacy workshops for students and teachers in 2018. In November 2019, 25 Access teachers and 10 alumni from India participated in a ten-day Regional Access summit called “Service-Learning Hackathon,” which brought together 60 teachers and 90 alumni from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in Kathmandu.