ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: More than 27,000 Pakistani students have graduated from the US-English Access Scholarship Program since it was launched in 2004.
In a statement on Saturday as the United States celebrates 20 years of the English Access Scholarship Program in Pakistan, the US Mission Spokesperson Jonathan Lalley said that more than 27,000 Pakistani students including more than 8,000 in the Islamabad region have graduated from the program in the last two decades.
“Access to English opens a world of opportunity,” Jonathan Lalley said.
The US Mission Spokesperson said that the access scholarships help Pakistani students from diverse backgrounds build English and leadership skills including students who might otherwise be overlooked or underserved. The skills they learn during the two-year program have a life-long impact, he added.
“We are proud of the professional achievements of our Access alumni, and the positive and long-lasting impact they have on their communities,” Jonathan Lalley said adding that the work they are doing to build a brighter future reflects the best of the US-Pakistan partnership.
Meanwhile, in his remarks at 20th Anniversary Celebration of English Access Program, the US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome said that today, we celebrate two decades of the Access Program and the remarkable achievements of alumni, students, and teachers.
The envoy said that throughout the year, we have been highlighting their exceptional achievements.
Ambassador Donald Blome said that our English-language programs are one of the highlights of the long-standing cooperation between the United States and Pakistan. He said that the US government supports Access because we believe in building connections between Americans and Pakistanis.
The US ambassador further said that access is about far more than just developing English-language proficiency. It develops future leaders by teaching leadership skills and fostering a sense of self-belief that extends beyond the classroom and into practical life, he said.
This program provides opportunity and hope to those who might have otherwise been overlooked or underserved.
“I hope all the Access alumni present today are proud of yourselves for putting the tools Access taught you to great use. Whether that is achieving admissions into local universities, obtaining employment, or receiving scholarships to study in the US. As for the teachers, thank you so much for participating in our training and exchange programs and helping us teach American culture and values that lead to a stronger cultural understanding between our Countries,” Ambassador Donald Blome said.
