U.S. Embassy’s New English Access Programs

Manila — The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines launched new English Access Microscholarship Programs in Quezon City and in Taguig. The Access Program provides 13 to 20 year-old students from low income communities with a foundation in English during two years of afterschool instruction and intensive summer learning activities.

Working in partnership with the University of the Philippines Diliman Research Institute for Islamic Social Sciences, Inc., the Embassy launched the Access Program in Quezon City on April 6 for 44 students. The Embassy launched the second program, for 50 students, in partnership with Taguig National High School on April 12.

The Embassy has sponsored Access Programs in the Philippines since 2007 and 1,756 Filipino students have received scholarships to date. The new students, many from Muslim communities in Quezon City and Taguig, are among the 134 students currently enrolled in Access programs throughout the Philippines. On April 10, 50 students graduated from the Access Program at Leyte National High School in Tacloban City.

Since its inception in 2004, approximately 150,000 students in more than 80 countries have participated in the Access Program.