FLEX Alumni Meet with Gori Access Students
On September 30, Access Program in Gori hosted three FLEX program alumni: Lika Okropiridze, Mariam Ghvamichava and Maka Mukhadze. The purpose of the enrichment activity was to increase the motivation of Access Program students to learn English in order to become participants of FLEX-like international exchange programs and return to their communities as the bearers and followers of western democratic values.
The guests spoke of their experiences living with American host families and studying in American high schools. Maka Mukhadze showed the Year Book published by the Pine Forest High School, where she studied for a year. She explained that Year Books are made and edited by students themselves and remarked that she took an active part in developing the one she held in her hands. Access students discovered that the Year Book was filled with numerous stories about the school life and various clubs functioning at school. They read a couple of stories aloud and discussed them together with the FLEX alumni.
Mariam Ghvamichava delivered a PowerPoint presentation about her active school life at Riverdale High School in Ohio. She spoke about her experience as a member of the school music band, which played on special occasions such as Spirit Week and Quiz Bowl. She also shared her impressions of the Prom.
The meeting was concluded with the Q&A panel, during which the Access Program students asked multiple questions not only about the life in America, but also about what the FLEX alumni are going to do with their lives in Georgia and how a visit in America changed their future plans.
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Success Stories
 Dianne Zhambakhidze was once a shy and silent student, but that was before she enrolled in Access. It took her nearly a year to find her voice, but now she is one of the most helpful and friendly members of the group. Peers admire her diligence and hard work and always pay extra attention to what she has to say in class when she answers questions and gives advice on homework problems. > More Second rotation of the Access program in Adjara region of Georgia started with its own set of challenges. After consultations with PH, “Changes without Borders” the implementing partner of the Access program decided to cast the participatory net wider to the outer and more remote locations of Adjara. The level of education and achievement among youth, in those remote locations, is lower than that in the Batumi public schools. Although over 200 applications were received, general starting level of language competencies among the selected 25 Access students was dramatically low. The majority of students could hardly read in English > More  |
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