Call for Proposals – 2022 English Access Microscholarship Program

The U.S. Embassy Phnom Penh is pleased to announce the 2022 English Access Microscholarship Program and to invite proposals from not-for-profit organizations, public educational institutions and schools. Interested applicants must submit Round I application no later than 5:00 p.m. Friday August 12, 2022.  

The English Access Miroscholarship Program is a high-profile global scholarship program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. This program provides a foundation of English Language skills to non-elite, 13-20 years old students through after school classes plus other, more intensive sessions and enhancement activities. The program also gives participants the opportunity to gain an appreciation for U.S. culture and values and it is intended to increase their English Language Skills which will enable them to better job and educational opportunities. 

A successful proposal must meet the following requirements: 

 1. Program Type: 

An exclusive English Language program for approximately 50 Access scholarship recipients. Each educational institution can provide English Lessons for two groups of maximum 25 students per group. 

 2. Program Length 

  • The Access program will last for two years with minimum 180 hours of instruction required per year, including after school instruction hours, intensive session hours and enhancement activities, for a minimum total of 360 hours for the two-years program. 
  • Access classes must start no later than February 20, 2023, but are encouraged to start earlier if possible. 

  3. Program content:  

 The Access program’s content must include: 

  • Regular after school English language classes. After-school classes should integrate into English Language curriculum a strong emphasis on U.S culture and values through instructions, materials selection, and a specific cultural enhancement component. Lessons should focus on the four language skills, reading, writing, speaking and listening. Classroom time should focus on communicative teaching methods. Access classes should include time for accuracy as well as fluency.  
  • English language intensive sessions. These intensive sessions are often one or two-week long summer programs but may also occur over consecutive weekends or between semesters. They should include more instructions hours per week than the afterschool and/or weekend programming the students receive throughout the two years. These sessions are included in the 180 hours of instruction required per year. Intensive sessions should combine English language instruction with U.S cultural activities such as drama, computers, art, music, or games and sports, or even civic responsibility projects, leadership and teamwork training or tolerance programs.  
  • The cultural enhancement activities. The enhancement activities aim to increase the student’s familiarity with U.S. culture and democratic values while they improve their English language and personal skills. Enhancement activities should be designed to provide hands on and interactive opportunities for students to engage in discussions, gamers, digital literacy skills, personal development, and community service. As much as possible, enhancement activities should incorporate U.S. Embassy/Consulate exchange alumni, U.S. exchange program participants, U.S. Embassy/Consulate personnel, and other native and non-native English-speaking partners. 
  • Computer instruction. Access Program, whenever possible, should include computer instruction to complement English Language instruction and enhancement activities. Online hours cannot replace 360 face-to-face hours. 
  • 100% of English Language instruction will be done by qualified English teachers. 

 4. Target participants and selection process: 

  • Selected participants must be high performing, 13-to-20-year-old-Cambodian students. The provider is encouraged to develop creative ideas to target at a specific group of students that have a good academic record and economically, socially, or ethnically disadvantaged. 
  • The English language center is encouraged to develop a selection process for the program in which the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section plays a key role and makes the final decision of selecting program participants. 

 5. Location: 

  • The program will be implemented at a location which is accessible on a regular basis to the selected participants with minimized support from the program budget. 
  • The location can be in a city/province where the provider has a branch with well-equipped facilities and qualified English teachers. 
  • Preference will be given to providers that strive to engage underserved and under-resourced communities. 

 6. Budget 

  • Program budget cannot exceed $1,500 per student for two years and can be less. 
  • The cost of the program should be itemized in the budget into the following categories: 
  • Salaries and Wages 
  • Benefits 
  • Books and Instructional Materials 
  • Travel 
  • Administration 
  • Food and Beverages 
  • Other costs 

 7. Application: 

Interested applicants are invited to apply Round 1 application no later than 5:00 p.m. Friday August 12, 2022. Selected applicants from Round 1 will be invited to submit a Round II application for final approval from Washington D.C.  

To seek further information about this program, please contact Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy Phnom Penh at 023 728-048 or email: PASExchanges@state.gov  

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