LAHORE: US Consul General to Lahore Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau welcomed over 100 new students from Lahore and Sialkot to the U.S. State Department’s English Works Program here on Thursday. Chairman Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) Irfan Qaiser Sheikh also attended the inauguration of the English language and skill enhancement program. English Works (EW) is an intensive business English (for workforce development) and skill enhancement program of 240 hours for 17-25 year old students. The overall goal of the program is to equip youth with practical life and work skills that can help them with their careers. Currently, the US Consulate General Lahore is running the program at four locations in Punjab (Sialkot, Lahore, Khanewal and Multan). These programs are being conducted at TEVTA facilities for over 200 students. Over 14,000 students have graduated from U.S. State Department-funded English language programs across Pakistan. The Consul General said, “This activity-based learning system with dedicated and skilled teachers will help develop the student’s entrepreneurship, leadership, technology, and job-hunting skill, helping young Pakistanis succeed in their studies, work and life.” She also thanked the Lahore Institute of Future Education (LIFE), the TEVTA Chairman and his team for their partnership and support. “This program,” said Kennedy-Trudeau, “will make students better by helping them develop their English, leadership, and critical-thinking skills. In this six month program, students will have the opportunity to participate in many community and character-building activities ranging from service projects to public-speaking workshops. So all the, teachers and students will play their part in building a prosperous, proud, and peaceful Pakistan.” Published in Daily Times, March 2nd 2018.