In the last week of June and the first week of July 2014, English Access Microschoalrship Program hosted yet another rotation of English Language Summer Day Camps for Access Program students in all the 10 regions of program implementation throughout Georgia. 258 students participated in the Summer Camps. While the Summer Camp activities in various locations were centered round similar Civic Education concepts, they also varied depending on the interests, needs and language competences of the Access Program students in different regions.
Civic Education Topics that were covered throughout the camp included, but were not limited to Critical and Media Literacy, Diversity and Multiculturalism, Education and Career Development, Volunteerism and Civic Engagement. In all the locations, the activities of the day were built around a common civics theme. Summer camp schedule included intensive English Language classes, recreation activities, field visits and excursions. As a result of the English Language Summer Camp activities, the project beneficiaries not only improved their language skills through education and recreation activities, but they also learned how to be a team member and how to function efficiently in a group of people with different backgrounds, understood the importance of being an active and responsible citizen, raised self-confidence through self-realization and improved their sense of empathy and shared tolerance as a fundamental attitude towards differences and variety.
In four locations of Kutaisi, Batumi, Telavi and Zugdidi Summer Camps finalized the students’ enrollment in the Access Program. Crystal Bock Theissen, regional English Language Specialist especially assigned by the U.S. Embassy to help with the camps, visited each of these four locations, helped with the planning, spent one full day with the campers and participated in or led some of the camp activities. The final part of the summer camp in the said regions was devoted to the Access Students’ Graduation Ceremony. 108 students were awarded Access Program Graduation Certificates, MP3 players and the books donated by the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi.
Ann Martin, Executive Director of PH International attended the final day of the Summer Camp in Telavi. After spending the whole day together with the Access students, she answered their questions and participated in the awards ceremony.
Mr. Richard Norland, Ambassador of the United States to Georgia spoke at the Access Program Graduation Ceremony in Batumi. He congratulated the Access Alumni with the successful completion of the Program, presented them with graduation certificates and answered their questions.
“Access Program opened the doors to the whole other new world to me” admitted Lika Jijavadze, one of the Access Program alumni from Batumi, in her interview to TV4. “Thanks to this program, I considerably improved my English, and what is more, I became much more self-confident and optimistic about my future” she added. “We have graduated, but we are not going to forget about the Access Program” confided Giorgi Laghiashvili, Access graduate from Telavi. “We have decided to establish an Access Program Club, through which we will still hold meetings and hopefully help with the enrichment activities and Summer Camps for the new generation of Access students in our town”.
*************************************
Since its inception in 2004, approximately 95,000 students in more than 85 countries have participated in the Access Program. In Georgia, the program supports 258 students in ten regions: Rustavi, Gori, Akihaltsikhe, Ambrolauri, Poti, Ozurgeti, Kutaisi, Batumi, Telavi, and Zugdidi. In addition to after-school classes, Access includes summer English camps and enrichment activities at no cost to the students. Students enhance their English language skills and gain greater self-confidence, stronger critical thinking skills, and increased opportunities for study or employment. They are also encouraged to participate in service projects.
