Salvadoran Youth Receive Scholarships

Charge d'Affaires Robert Blau talks to a family of quintuplets who are part of the group who received the English Access scholarships.

On November 17, one hundred 14 to 18 year olds from Salvadoran underprivileged families received the English Access scholarships, so that they will learn English in order to have better opportunities.

This is the first time the English Access scholarships are handed out in El Salvador. The English Access program was created in 2004 to help young people in a situation of social exclusion. This year, the Department of State decided to open the program to Central American countries, including El Salvador.
 
The U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Office has received $200,000 to provide English classes for 200 students. The program will be executed in coordination with Centro Cultural Salvadoreño Americano for a period of 2 years. One hundred students are starting their classes this month at the CCSA in San Salvador. Another 100 will start at the CCSA in San Miguel in January. The grant is providing them transportation to school, books, training, activities, etc.

Approximately 44,000 bright 14-18 year old lower income students from more than 55 countries have received these scholarships since 2004. This is the first year the program is being offered in Central America. Students not only learn English, but also American culture, values and democratic principles.