19 Jun 2016

The United States of America Ambassador to Botswana,  Mr Earl Miller says the English language access programme helps students build their confidence and believe in themselves to excel in life.

Speaking during the English access micro-scholarship programme graduation ceremony at Stepping Stones International on June 17 in Mochudi, Mr Miller said the programme fortified students leadership and English language skills through participation in an intensive two-year after school programme.

Ambassador Miller said the programme gave students much more than just learning the English language but participants also learnt about the US culture, build professional and life skills and participate in community service activities.

He said, “the US Embassy is proud of our work with Stepping Stones. Stepping Stones is a unique organisation that uses innovative and holistic methods to reach youth most in need.” 

Mr Miller said they were pleased to partner with Stepping Stones International to launch the Access programme in Botswana and the US Embassy had provided approximately P549 000 to support 25 students in the ages of 12 to 13 years in Mochudi.

He further said Botswana’s youth were now part of over 100 000 students in more than 80 countries that had participated in the Access programme over the past 10 years from Morocco where the programme originally started to South Africa.

The programme educator, Ms Connie Mogara said the programme had come handy for the students as they had now learnt the English language and their confidence had been built.

She said the participants could now read and write English language without problems as compared to when they first came for the programme.

Ms Mogara said the students had now learnt good public speaking skills and could now be able to face their peers and address them without fear.

Ithuteng Junior Secondary School head, Mr Moses Mariri said he was happy for the students to have been able to achieve such an award which will help them improve their results.

He encouraged them to aim high beyond Stepping Stones because they had been given a platform to excel and now the onus in on them to perform.

Mr Mariri urged them not to bask on temporary glory but study smarter so that they could become what they wanted to be.

One of the participants, Aubrey Lenong said they had learned a lot from the programme and appreciated the opportunity they had been given to learn English and the American culture.

He said they have a chance to meet different people and learn about new places whilst they get skills that will change their lives forever.

The director of Stepping Stones International, Ms Lisa Jamu said all the participants who had gone through the programme had managed to pass their junior certificate.  She said the English access programme helped students improve their marks and built their confidence to speak in English. ENDS