By Abderrahman ISMAILI-ALAOUI, Meknes
Moroccan Educational and Resource Network (MEARN) organised MEARN Access FY13 first End of MEARN Access Program Event (EMAPE), from 29 to 31 January, 2017 at Zalagh Parc Palace Fez, Morocco.
Graduates of MEARN Access Micro-Scholarship Program participated in three days of a talent show in drama, poetry, singing, ICT productions and public speaking at the Access Graduation Ceremony and Project Citizen Showcase at the end of MEARN Access Micro-scholarship program FY13.
At the end of this event, a Certificate Award Ceremony was held on 31th January for the students of the English Access Micro-scholarship Program. These graduates expressed their impressions about their experience in Access Program. They also emphasized the need for a very strong team to strengthen their personal skills, creativity and self-development. Access graduates got full support and guidelines from MEARN Board about forming the alumni association.
MEARN Access Alumni Association is the forum for former MEARN Access students aiming to continue learning and work for their community. This association is a voluntary based organization with its main aim to include all MEARN Access Program graduated students from the different Access centers of MEARN, especially to develop their leadership skills so that they could meaningfully contribute to uplift English language learning in their communities with the goal of bringing positive changes in students’ life and as a whole to contribute in the path of prosperity and well-being of their communities as being responsible citizens.
It is worth mentioning that MEARN has been running English Access Micro-scholarship Program FY13 classes in Morocco since 2015 in six high schools in Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, Sale, Figuig, Boulmane, Taourirt and El Mansouria; and Access FY14 classes in four additional centers in Ouaouizeght, El Jadida, Sidi Bennour and Meknes.
The two-year Access program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State to provide talented students from economically disadvantaged sectors a foundation of the English language skills in speaking, writing, listening, and reading with additional enhancement activities through after-school classes and intensive sessions. This program also aims at strengthening students’ commitment to community service and volunteering activities through sponsored events and preparing them for better jobs and educational prospects and the ability to compete for and participate in future exchanges and study in the United States.
