About

The U.S. Embassy Colombo, Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) is pleased to announce a funding opportunity for organizations to submit applications to carry out the design and implementation of the English Access Scholarship Program.

Program Goal

• The goal of Access is to provide participants with improved English language communication skills (e.g. speaking and listening) that may lead to better jobs and educational prospects, including future exchanges and study in the United States.

Program Objectives

• Objective 1: Recruit a diverse pool of 75 student leaders from 3 different low-income communities in Sri Lanka (25 per site) to participate in the program. Proposals for 50 students from 2 communities, or 100 students from 4 communities will also be considered.

• Objective 2: Strengthen the English language communication skills of all participants by providing meaningful interaction, cooperative and student-centered learning strategies, interest- and age-appropriate activities, and real-life application of content.

• Objective 3: Create program activities that emphasize the Four Pillars of Access: Global Citizenship Themes, U.S. Culture and Values, 21st Century Skills, and English Language Instruction.

• Objective 4: Increase professional and instructional skills of 6 local English teachers (2 per site) with training on new and modern teaching practices, to include both in-person courses and 2 hours of monthly online training during the program duration. Proposals for 4 teachers in 2 sites or 8 teachers in 4 sites will also be considered with a corresponding number of students (25 per site). 

Funding Information

• Anticipated award amount: $78,000

• Total available funding: $156,000

• Award Ceiling: $104,000

• Award Floor: $52,000

Duration

• Length of performance period: 24 months

Program Implementation Locations

• Providers can submit proposals to conduct the program in any three of the following locations: Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Ampara, Batticaloa, Rathnapura, Putalam, or Nuwara Eliya. Proposals for two or four sites will also be considered. 

Ineligibility Criteria

• This opportunity will not support: 

  • Projects relating to partisan political activity; 

  • Charitable or development activities; 

  • Construction projects; 

  • Projects that support specific religious activities; 

  • Fund-raising campaigns; 

  • Lobbying for specific legislation or programs; 

  • Scientific research or surveys.

Eligibility

• Eligible Applicants

  • Not-for-profit organizations

• Other Eligibility Requirements

  • In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued.

  • No children from families of the provider’s administrative or teaching staff may be selected.

  • Teachers in this program should have a minimum of two years’ experience teaching English fulltime in any institution, though preferably at a primary or secondary level.

Post Date: September 20, 2024