The English Access Microscholarship Program


The English Access Microscholarship Program is an international project created by the U.S Department of State which aims to help teens from economically disadvantaged backgrounds gain opportunities in employment, education, and life in general. Access promotes skills and knowledge in the English language, as well as giving students the ability to compete and participate in future exchanges and study in the United States. Approximately 95,000 students in more than 85 countries have participated in the program since its founding in 2004.

Objectives

The principal objective of Access is to change the life of the students, improving their social skills and leadership. It develops social awareness about the country's problems, and how they can solve them as well. Although learning a new language can be difficult, Access tries to improve the system of learning and makes it part of the student's life, not as an obligation.
Access seeks to help disadvantaged teens to improve their English language skills. To achieve this, the program is free of charge to participating students. Furthermore, materials are provided by the American Embassy. The program has run in Guatemala, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Tunisia, the West Bank/Gaza, Mongolia, and other locations.

Requirements

To apply to this scholarship, the students must live outside of the United States and be between the ages of 13 and 20. Each accepted student receives 128 hours of instruction per year. They attend 4 hours per week, for a total of 32 weeks, plus 72 hours of intensive two-week summer program each year.