KARACHI: “When I heard about a programme that would help me speak and write better English, I immediately raised my hand and volunteered to join,” said Annas Badar, a boy dressed in white kurta and shalwar with a black turban.

“I know I don’t fit the description of an English-speaking teenager, but we were asked to come here in casual clothes so I wore what I normally do and felt comfortable in,” he smiled shyly.

When asked what he expected from the programme, he just smiled some more and shrugged. Someone joked then that after completing two years of the course the boy will surely lose his turban and have burgers for breakfast, lunch and dinner and Annas laughed at the thought as did the other children seated next to him. “But,” he said, “I will always wish you with a ‘salam’ instead of ‘Hi’, ‘Hello’ or ‘Howdy’!”

Muskan, a young girl also freshly enrolled in the programme, said that she felt that she was able to express herself better in English now. “Learning has become fun for me, too,” she said.

Some 200 students from various low-income areas of Karachi who joined the US State Department’s English Access Microscholarship Programme were welcomed by US consul general Brian Heath at a colourful ceremony here on Tuesday.

The students joined in the programme in June, according to Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, director of Access Evolution, the people behind the programme with the motto ‘igniting potential’. “By now they have already completed 40 hours of study, which is equal to one module,” he said.

Education enhances people’s ability to make informed decisions in their own lives and to participate in civil life by exercising their universal rights, said Mr Heath. “Education also promotes tolerance as it helps us understand one another and see our common humanity. This is the foundation for peace, security and prosperity. Clearly, education is vital to our bright future,” he said.

“Following some hard work from you all over the next two years I would like to see not just your English becoming stronger but the other activities included in the programme turning you into a positive contributing member of Pakistani society,” he added.

“The tip I have for you is to take advantage of this opportunity.”

Acknowledging and appreciating the staff who work so hard on their students, he said: “Teaching is one of the noblest of professions.”

To this, Mr Khalid, one of the facilitators, mentor and teacher present on the occasion said that initially he had seen the advertisement for the position and thought that six hours a week for a good pay wasn’t a bad deal but now he was more interested in the nature of the job. “The uniqueness of the programme is in its learning framework. This is not just any monotonous English learning programme. We teach others how to communicate best with others and develop an understanding about them while making ourselves clear, too. Leadership, social responsibility, confidence, tolerance, teamwork and commitment are all a part of the programme,” he said.

The event also showcased Access Evolution’s first digital story, demonstrating the importance of girls’ education.

The English Access Microscholars-hip Programme provides a unique educational opportunity to thousands of children around Pakistan. It provides a foundation of English-language skills to youth from economically disadvantaged areas through after-school classes and intensive sessions and aims at developing English skills to enable participants to find better jobs and educational prospects.

Since its inception in 2004, some 95,000 students in more than 85 countries — more than 5,000 of them in Pakistan — have taken part in the programme.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2014