English Access Microscholarship Program Kick Off held
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The second English Access Microscholarship Program induction ceremony was held on March 05/2022 at Peda campus, Old Senate Hall, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia.
In the opening event, Diane Millar, RELO - Representative of US Embassy, Addis Ababa expressed her excitement being in Bahir Dar noting that it is her first trip outside of Addis in her a year and half long stay in Ethiopia. Speaking on the launching of the second English Access Microscholarship program at Bahir Dar University, she expressed with regret that the program had been delayed due to COVID 19. In her speech, Diane thanked Bahir Dar University: Doctors: Tesfaye Shiferaw, V/president for Research and Community Services, Sefa Meka, Dean Faculty of Humanities and Dawit and Manendante, Access Coordinators for making this program a reality.
Diane said that English is beyond a language of instruction; it is a language of business and science, innovation and entrepreneurship. In the access program, she noted, students will learn not only about American culture but their own culture and values too, develop personally and grow into strong and confident leaders. She mentioned that this microscholarship is just the beginning, but there will be other undergrad and graduate program scholarship opportunities if students work hard and be competitive. She made students promise to work hard, respect their teachers and classmates, help their parents, enjoy and have fun in and through the program.
Finally, She thanked parents for their great parenting and for allowing their children work with the Access program and welcomed all to the international English Access Micro scholarship family.
Dr Sefa Meka, Dean Faculty of Humanities expressed his gratitude to the tax-paying American people and the American Embassy Addis Ababa for their financial aid to running the Access program that will help support the in demand highschool and preparatory students improve their English language competence and develop personally and intellectually. He congratulated the Access team at the faculty for winning the grant. He expressed his belief that the program will help benefit the local community students and wished all a successful undertaking.
Dr Yinager T/Sellassie spoke representing the office of the Vice President for Research and Community Services of BDU. He thanked the American Embassy for the continued support to improve the English Language teaching in Ethiopia. As an access teacher himself, he witnessed that the program was very successful in the first round and believed would still be better in current one.
In the event, Dr Manendante Mulugeta presented a project overview about the Access Micro scholarship program. He highlighted the major target areas of the program. The access package includes English language as its top priority, but the program also thrives to help students grow fully as individuals and hence engage them in community service and culture sharing activities. He gave a clear picture about the Access English Microsholarship Program.
In the ceremony, certificate handing over program to the Access participants was held. There was a getting to know each other program by Access teachers and there were also motivating language games which were powerful enough to hold the students attention. The event was co-chaired by Miss Mastewal Mesfin and Dr Dawit Amogne.
Message from the Access team: We are very grateful to the American People and the Embassy at Addis Ababa!
