HYDERABAD: As many as 200 enthusiastic access students graduated under the US State Department funded English language Access Programme in Hyderabad on Thursday. A ceremony was held in this regard, which was attended by AJ Jagelski, Cultural Attaché, US Consulate General Karachi, Consulate Officer Bria Mathews, and Society for International Education Executive Director Farah Kamal and General Manager Saleem Ibrahim. “The United States is very proud to enable young people throughout Pakistan to develop English language skills,” said Jagelski. “The effort you put in over the last two years to learn English will help you achieve your academic goals and enhance your career prospects, while enabling you to better understand the world around you,” Jagelski added. According to Jagelski, “The best part in achieving these things for yourself, you are also contributing to your country. Your hard work means that Pakistan is strengthened as a nation and so is the friendship between our countries. Your community service activities were powerful experiences and truly make a difference.” Since its inception, more than 95,000 students in more than 85 countries have participated in the Access Programme. The US Consulate General Karachi, in recent past, sponsored Access programmes in Karachi, Sukkur, Jacobabad, Tharu Shah, Kandiaro and Hyderabad. The US State Department’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs is funding the English Access Microscholarship Programme. The Access Programme provides a foundation of English language skills to 13 to18 years-old talented students from economically disadvantaged areas through after-school classes and intensive enrichment activities. The participants gained skills that would lead to better jobs and educational prospects; as they can also compete for and participate in future exchanges and study programmes in the United States.