US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller has congratulated 76 latest graduates of the U.S. State Department-funded English Access Microscholarship Programme.
He praised their hard work in completing the programme during the pandemic.
A total of 38 young women and 38 young men from local madrasas and public schools in Rajshahi and Chattogram joined the programme.
“Since its inception, the Access program continues to provide students around the world with a life changing opportunity to achieve their dreams. I believe this is only the beginning of the many accomplishments you will continue to achieve throughout your lives,” said the Ambassador in a virtual programme held on Tuesday evening.
More importantly, Miller said he believes in young people and so their teachers, classmates, and loved ones who have supported the participants throughout this remarkable journey.
“You are the talented and bright leaders who will shape the course of Bangladesh’s future. You are the next generation of changemakers who will help us continue to make progress in solving our world’s most pressing challenges. You are extraordinary beyond measure.” he said.
The English Access Microscholarship Programme is a rigorous, two-year interactive program building a foundation in English language, American culture, critical thinking, and leadership skills for 13-17-year-olds from economically-disadvantaged backgrounds, and helps them become more competitive for higher education and employment opportunities.
Currently, 200 students are virtually participating in Access programs in Dhaka, Sylhet, and Chattogram.
Since it began in 2004, 1,336 Bangladeshi students have successfully completed the program.
Tuesday’s graduating class joined 95,000 other Access programme alumni in more than 85 countries around the world.
The Access programme is one of U.S. Embassy Dhaka’s many initiatives to strengthen and expand people-to-people ties and educational linkages between the United States and Bangladesh, enhance the quality of education locally, and empower Bangladeshi youth through innovative learning opportunities.
Source: United News of Bangladesh