Press Releases
U.S. Ambassador lauds 30 Zanzibari students for completing the English Access Microscholarship Program
November 16, 2007
Thirty bright Zanzibari students graduated from the U.S.-sponsored English Access Microscholarship Program on November 9. This program affords 14 - 18 year old students the opportunity to study English, learn about American culture and democratic values, increase their ability to participate successfully in the socio-economic development of their countries, and improve their chances of participating in U.S. or international educational exchange programs.
Besides a heavy focus on English learning, the program aims to give students an understanding of American culture and values, democratic principles and civic engagement. Program enhancement activities – out of classroom activities intended to increase students' familiarity with American culture and values and/or improve their English language skills – are a critical component of the successful program.
One of the graduating students, speaking on behalf of the group said, “We stand here to express our special thanks to the American Government for giving us the opportunity to be part of the English Access Microscholarship Program which the State University of Zanzibar has been running. Thank you very much for making this possible for us. We are among the lucky few students to be selected from over 200 students who applied to be part of the program.”
On behalf of the State University of Zanzibar, Dr. Ahmada Khatib noted, “I would like to thank the embassy so much for this program.”
Ambassador Mark Green then thanked the administrator of the program, the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA), and called SUZA “a wonderful friend and partner.” He added that while both the students and Dr. Khatib were kind enough to thank the American government, in a strange way, that is not exactly accurate. “I say that,” he continued, “because in our country, it is not the American government that has the money, it is not the government that is doing these things, it is the American people. I think the best way I can describe to you what America is like is that we have lots of good people in our country who generously give money to people they have never met in places I’ll bet they could not even pronounce. But they do so because we believe it is our moral obligation. We are a blessed country, we are a wealthy country. And therefore we believe we are required to share that wealth where we can.”
Ambassador Green added, “The best way we can help for the future is to find young people who we think will be the leaders for tomorrow. I’m excited because I hope and believe my children will grow up in a world where we are even closer friends and we will have leaders like you that we will work with. I am grateful to all of you and I salute you for all your head work and your studies. You are taking charge of your future. And by taking charge of your future you are helping build your country’s future and this world’s future.”
This is the fourth group of graduating students, but it is the first group to have participated for an entire year. Previous cohorts studied for three months. The program on Unguja was an after-school program, while on Pemba, students formed a special class at Fidel Castro High School. Besides a day of educational advising, and their graduation ceremony, while on their two –day trip to Dar es Salaam, they also participated in the U.S. College Fair.