AMIDEAST: On opportunities for Yemen’s Youth [Archives:2007/1064/Reportage]
July 2 2007
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We heard that recently U.S. Department of State-funded youth studying with AMIDEAST Sana'a and AMIDEAST Aden have taken part in a number of community service, environmental activities and educational competitions in Yemen. Who are these students and could you tell us more about their programs?
The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Exchanges through the U.S. Embassy in Sana'a supports the funding of two important programs for Yemeni youth; these are the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program and the English Access Microscholarship Program.
The U.S. Department of State YES program in Yemen will send 30 students to the U.S. in August 2007 for one year of study in an American high school. While in the U.S., YES scholarship grantees participate in youth leadership and community service activities as well as experience U.S. culture and society first-hand. Over 80 Yemeni students have traveled on the YES program since 2003. A number of YES alumni routinely support programs and activities that contribute to their communities and Yemen.
The U.S. Department of State English Access Microscholarship Program currently provides high quality English language training to 300 secondary school students from 10 Yemeni governorates. These students were selected from a pool of applicants who are academic achievers in their Yemeni government schools and whose family resources would not be able to provide for this training. English Access training focuses on intensive American English language courses and American culture.
To support both initiatives, AMIDEAST offices in Yemen provide English language learning and study and life skills training appropriate for these students. In the classroom, students are guided by skilled teachers working with a well-developed curriculum that leads to fluency and TOEFL preparation. The awards-winning text is augmented by group and pair exercises designed to ensure the maximum use of the language in the learning process. Teachers use state of the art media presentation and the resources of the CALL (Computer Aided Learning Lab) and the U.S. Department of State EducationUSA-supported library to enhance student success. Students learn to challenge each other in a positive environment where the priority of learning English directs all efforts.
Yes?
In addition to the classroom experience English Access Microscholarship Program and YES students participate in community service presentations, outings and other cultural events which offer them insights into American culture and give them practical opportunities to use their newly-acquired language skills.
Thu, students in these programs are oriented on how they can give back services to their communities and take part in the development process. In the last three years, AMIDEAST students have taken part in Global Youth Service Day supporting beautification projects in Sabeen Park in Sana'a and in the Aden Marsh, an important stopover along the aviary migratory route between Africa and Eurasia. Students have also taken part in collecting food for marginalized children during the Eid and Christmas holidays as well as supporting Yemen's first Walk for Hunger.
The objectives of these programs and activities are in keeping with AMIDEAST Yemen's mission to provide meaningful training to enable Yemeni citizens to develop the potential of themselves and their country.
You mentioned that you view participants in these programs as individuals who have the potential to develop their country. Could you clarify this statement?
Yes. The participants in these programs are provided with training in a variety of skills and this training is supported by a series of best practices derived from the U.S. Department of State's implementation of these programs around the region and around the world. As a result, a number of YES and English Access students are now in university faculties in Yemen and around the world that require strong English language skills, and they perform at the highest levels in their coursework.
By the way, we also proud to announce that Ali Hussein, a YES and English Access grantee, was selected in April 2007 by the English Speaking Union to represent Yemen in an international speaking competition in London. Just two weeks ago, Ali became the first Yemeni to win this prestigious competition which focused on the international issue of water use!
Still, some of the participants are still young, right? So how can they develop their country?
Yes, some of the participants, like Ali, aren't in university yet, but they are taking part in a variety of programs for high school-aged students. Ali's speech contributes to raising awareness of water issues. As far as other examples, we're pleased that this year's YES program includes a few Yemeni nominees from the first and second years of the English Access program in Aden. Further, for the last three years, the English Access program has contributed at least one participant each year to the MEPI Summer Youth Leadership Institute, a six-week course of study of the U.S. and its culture, held at selected U.S. universities. We hope that some of these students may have the opportunity for semester-long study in the U.S. as well.
In short and going back to the original question, we are seeing well-rounded young people complete these one-year (and in some case shorter) programs whilst making contributions to Yemen, and with this group of young, we believe that they will succeed in business, law, journalism, civil service, engineering, or any other profession that they choose.
Do you hear from these alumni?
Yes absolutely. Further, in March, under the auspices of other U.S. program alumni, we organized a seminar on development issues for Yemeni youth who have taken part in the English Access, YES and MEPI summer leadership programs in Sana'a. We anticipate follow up activities to include professional development seminars in the year ahead. We hope that community leaders)many of whom are alumni of other U.S. programs)will also be involved in these alumni activities. We believe that U.S. alumni have a major inpact on Yemen's future and its youth, and they are like a two-way bridge linking American and Yemeni concepts and cultures.
We have one last question. Now that the Yemen Times has helped provide information about these interesting programs, could you please tell our readers how individuals may apply for these opportunities?
AMIDEAST, an American non-governmental organization with offices in Yemen and eleven other countries in the Middle East and North, is proud to be part of the EducationUSA network which provides information about studying and training opportunities and programs in the U.S. In Sana'a we host one advising session per week at no cost to the general public. In both offices we post announcements about opportunities and we welcome students to drop in or call for more information. Finally the English Access Microscholarships and YES programs are being announced during the summer months. Stay tuned here at the Yemen Times.
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