English Access Scholarship Program – Tajikistan

The goal of the Access Program is to equip talented students who possess a minimal knowledge of English with effective communication and critical thinking skills through meaningful interaction, cooperative learning strategies, and real-life contexts. Additionally, Access seeks to prepare students for conversational English language skills with native and non-native speakers of English through a variety of experiential learning activities. Selected participants must be bright, economically disadvantaged students with a beginning level of English. Participants should commit to enroll in classes during the full two-year program.

Students are expected to graduate with certificates of completion from the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan at the end of their two-year program. The Program is divided into two distinct phases: (1) 360 hours of after school classroom instruction, consisting of a minimum 6 hours per week and maximum 2 hours per day as well as (2) off-site activities that are cohesive and clearly linked to the curriculum described.

The program curriculum must focus on the Media Literacy and Civic Engagement themes. These themes remain relevant in both urban and rural areas of Tajikistan and the youth will learn to analyze, evaluate, and expand their access to alternative sources of information through the in-class and off-site activities on Media Literacy. It also aims to engage youth in more active civic lifestyles based on critical thinking skills, sharing and production skills, informed decision-making, and active participation.

Program Design 

• When designing an Access program, providers should take into consideration the time needed to recruit and train teachers and to select students for the program prior to beginning instruction. In addition, the purchase of textbooks and supplies will be an important part of program planning. The U.S. Embassy recommends using four levels (Starter, Elementary, Pre-Intermediate and Intermediate) of American Headway Textbooks.

Access Teacher Community of Practice (CoP) 

• It is highly recommended that providers plan for and budget to pay teachers to attend at least two hours per month of teacher professional development through the free Access Teacher Community of Practice (CoP). The Access Teacher CoP is an online resource for teachers to receive professional development focused on model lesson plans as well as webinars with guest speakers on American culture.

Professional Development 

• Before Access instruction begins, providers should provide and budget for training for teachers on all four pillars of the Access Program. For example, training on global citizenship themes and U.S. culture and values can be facilitated through webinars on the Access Teacher CoP, while training on TESOL methodology and 21st-century skills may be incorporated through Online Professional English Network (OPEN) courses or in-person trainings organized by the U.S. Embassy’s Regional English Language Office. It is recommended that teachers engage in professional development on the CoP throughout the two-year program.
• By the end of this program, Access students will learn skills that help them gain them access to better jobs, educational opportunities, and the ability to participate in and compete for future exchanges and study in the United States, such as through FLEX, TechGirls, UGRAD, Fulbright, etc.

Project Goal

• To support socio-economic empowerment of Tajik youth by improving English language proficiency of 9th grade students from underserved communities through participation in a two-year English language training program focused on media literacy and civic engagement.

Project Objectives

• Objective 1: Increase English language reading, writing, listening and speaking skills on themes of media literacy and civic engagement up to 50 program participants through in-class instruction and off-site civic engagement/volunteer activities.
• Objective 2: Strengthen students’ understanding of global citizenship, U.S. culture, values through experiential learning activities, leadership and civic engagement skills. For example: through volunteerism, community service activities, and engaging in issues that impact their local community.
• Objective 3: Improve the ability of students to critically analyze media content, identify disinformation and credible sources through media literacy training and simulated disinformation exercises.

Funding Information

• Total available funding: approximately $1,000 per student
• Award Ceiling: $50,000
• Award Floor: $24,000
• Length of performance period: 2-year program
• Number of awards anticipated: 1 award per grantee for two or more sites
• Anticipated start date: November 30, 2024

The Successful Provider will be Responsible for the Following Tasks: 

• Collaborate with the U.S. Embassy to integrate program goals in curriculum and program design.
• Partner with the U.S. Embassy to select high-quality teachers and appropriate students for the program.
• Support professional development needs for Access teachers.
• Deliver instruction and programmatic activities.
• Regularly monitor and evaluate program implementation to ensure high-quality programming.
• Inform U.S. Embassy about significant program developments, challenges, and highlights.
• Send invitations to the relevant U.S. Embassy staff alerting them to special events, as well as opportunities to visit and speak.
• Submit success stories of Access Program students to relevant U.S. Embassy staff, in a timely manner, for use on social media.
• Maintain program and financial documentation to comply with auditing and U.S. Government regulation.

Project Audience(s)

• Youth (9th grade students, typically ages 14-15) with beginner-level English speaking skills from low-income communities most affected by labor migration and vulnerable to extremist ideas (rural areas of Khatlon such as the villages surrounding the cities of Kulob, Danghara, Qubodiyon, and Shahrituz as well as districts of the Dushanbe Republican Subordination including Tursunzoda, Rudaki, Obigarm and others which are predominantly in Tajikistan’s remote areas).
• By targeting 9th grade students (typically ages 14-15) from undeserved/migrant families, with some interest in volunteerism/community/sustainability and environment/technology/women’s empowerment. The program will help these Tajik youth consider and build the skills needed for future careers which are needed to develop Tajikistan’s domestic economy.

Eligibility Criteria

• The following organizations are eligible to apply:
  • Non-governmental organizations
  • Public Organizations Post has determined the target audience from Khatlon and Districts of Republican Subordination, but the applications from all four regions of Tajikistan will be accepted and considered. Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization for two or more sites. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.
  • To be eligible for consideration, every applicant must be currently engaged and/or implementing an English language teaching program. Service providers from remote areas of Tajikistan are encouraged to apply to run the program activities in more than one site.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.