PH International

Access Program in Ozurgeti Awards the First Alumni

Georgia | English Access Microscholarship Program | 17 Jan 2013

On January 17 twenty-five adolescents from economically and socially disadvantaged families, who graduated an intensive two-year long English Language course under the English Access Micsroscholarship Program, gathered in the Center for Civic Engagement in Ozurgeti to mark and celebrate the happy occasion together with their parents, schools principals and special guests.

Access Program alumni surprised the audience with the confident and fluent speech in English expressing their gratitude for the unforgettable two-year long experience in the program and sharing their memories of the fun during summer school and enhancement activities

Gift packages for students containing graduation certificates signed by the United States ambassador to Georgia Richard Norland, Access Program caps, T-shirts, and pens together with books on famous Americans and MP3 players added to the joy of the graduation ceremony. “I cannot help being emotional on this very special day expressing my deep gratitude for a chance my daughter got when she enrolled in this program” admitted Natia Goguadze, one of the parents - the mother of five trying to contain her tears. “If not for the Access program, my daughter Salome Goguadze, who is a student now, would never make it through the National Entrance Exams. My family can hardy make both ends meet, leave alone tutoring our children. My heartfelt thank you goes to the implementers and funders of this project!” she added.

Funded by the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi and implemented by PH International, the Access program aims to make the study of English more accessible to adolescents from an economically disadvantaged background through after-school classes and intensive sessions. The program works with 200 economically-underprivileged students aged 13-17 in eight regions of Georgia (Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Batumi, Telavi, Rustavi, Gori, Ozurgeti, Akhaltsikhe), providing after-school and summer English classes and enrichment activities at no cost to the students and enhancing English language skills thereby developing increased self-confidence, stronger critical thinking skills, and increased opportunities for study and employment. While working on their language skills, the participants become familiar with various aspects of US and western values and culture and develop their leadership and interpersonal skills.

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