VietNamNet Bridge - U.S. Ambassador Ted Osius awarded certificates of completion to 38 students who successfully completed the English Access Microscholarship Program at a graduation ceremony joined by teachers, parents, and education officials.  

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, students from less developed districts in Hanoi took afterschool English classes coupled with cultural activities, personal development seminars, and community service projects at Cleverlearn English Language Center Vietnam for two years with a total of 360 hours of instruction.

“The key to having a strong, prosperous, and independent Vietnam that respects human rights and the rule of law is providing the best possible education system, especially in the area of English language, an increasingly important skill to have to compete in the global marketplace of the Twenty-First Century ” noted Ambassador Osius in his congratulatory remarks.

The U.S. State Department's English Access Microscholarship Program was launched in Vietnam in 2009 and has since expanded to 11 provinces, including the mountainous provinces of Lao Cai and Son La.  To date, the U.S. State Department has invested over $500,000 for the Access Program in Vietnam and as many as 370 students have participated in this program so far.

“I would say that this course has helped me learn a lot about my strengths and weaknesses and in a way to find myself. I now know that I do well when working in groups. I know where and how I fit in and contribute to my community. I am more mature in my thoughts and actions. I’m now ready to look for opportunities to study abroad. Thank you for the English Access Microscholarship Program - my best memory and experience in my life,” said Nguyen Thi Hoa, an Access graduate.

The English Access Microscholarship Program is an exciting avenue with which to build people-to-people ties between the United States and Vietnam—especially in 2015 which marks the 20th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations.

PV