On January 23, 45 students from Manta, Portoviejo, and Santo Domingo graduated from one of the English Access Microscholarship Programs that the U.S. Embassy sponsors throughout Ecuador. The U.S. Consul General, Patricia Fietz, attended the ceremony and congratulated the students on their effort and commitment to learn a second language. After two years of education and participation in cultural activities organized by the Embassy in Quito and its partner in this program COPEI (Copol English Institute), the students have obtained a very important tool to access new and better academic and professional opportunities.
The Embassy launched the first phase of Access in Ecuador in 2013 and so far the program has included close to 1000 Ecuadorian students. At present, there are similar programs in Cuenca, Quito, Zamora, Loja, and Saraguro, and a new program will be announced in 2016.
“Access” is a program sponsored by the U.S. Government through the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs that operates in more than 80 countries providing thousands of 14 to 18 year old students from disadvantaged areas the opportunity to learn English as a tool to access better jobs and better educational opportunities.
