Deadline: 8-Dec-21
The US Embassy Nairobi is inviting interested applicants to submit proposals from implementing partners for 2022 -2023 English Access Microscholarship Program (Access) in response to the reference Notice of Funding Announcement (NOFO).
The goal of the Access Program is to equip bright, talented, economically deserving students with a range of global citizenship skills anchored by the core components of enhanced English language skills and a stronger Kenyan-U.S. cross-cultural understanding. The global citizenship skills aim to build individuals with stronger self-esteem and a keen sense of public service in an increasingly globalized world. Global citizenship skills include, but are not limited to, critical and creative thinking, leadership, information technology, civic outreach, and media literacy.
Participants should commit to enroll in classes during the full two year program. Selected participants must be bright, economically-disadvantaged secondary school students with a beginning level of English, ideally in Form 2 at the beginning of the program in January 2022. Students will graduate with certificates of completion from the U.S. Embassy Nairobi at the end of their two-year program.
The English language component should break from traditional models to deliver a more meaningful, interactive language learning experience centered on the learner. Project-based and experiential approaches should be employed in order to help the learner use English to understand, discuss, and resolve authentic local and global challenges.
Programs
- After-School/Weekend Instruction: The Access Program must deliver 360 hours of total instruction reasonably distributed over the two-year period. The first component of the 360 hours should be in English classes meeting at least twice per week. The majority of the program’s hours will be in this component. Classes typically last from 1.5 to 3 hours.
- Enhancement Activities: The second component of the 360 total hours will be enhancement activities. These activities are aimed at fostering Kenyan-U.S. cross-cultural understanding, as well as developing other key global citizenship skills, such as community service and leadership. These activities are an opportunity for educators and students to be creative and extend the language learning experience beyond the classroom walls.
- Intensive Sessions: The third component of the 360 hours of program instruction are two-week long intensive sessions that should not exceed 8 hours per day or 40 hours a week. These should be conducted at an off-site to create more opportunity for students to bond with their classmates. Intensive sessions usually occur during school holidays and last 4-5 days.
- Community Service Activities: Access students should also be involved in community service activities to increase their awareness of issues facing their respective communities while also gaining an understanding of the ways they can positively contribute to civil society.
- Community Outreach: The Access Program site should serve as a model classroom. Efforts should be made to reach parents and other English teachers in the community, as well as include teachers of other subject matters, administrators, English Language Fellows, alumni, etc. in the Access experience, where appropriate.
Funding Information
Providers can submit proposals of varying size with a minimum of $50,000 USD and a maximum of $175,000 USD, depending on the Provider’s capability, infrastructure, and geographic spread.
Eligibility Criteria
- Proposals may be submitted by Kenyan non-governmental/non-profit organizations or educational institutions.
- The project implementation location should include 2 – 4 centers in Mombasa and/or Isiolo Counties.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=336362
