I am very proud to be from the USA for many reasons but there’s one reason lately that I’ve been particularly proud.  Did you know that the US government provides approximately 150 scholarships each year to students from underserved populations in developing countries? It’s called the Community College Initiative Program or CCIP. The program is intended to help students in English proficiency, leadership skills and professional skills so that they can return home and are able to contribute to the economic growth and development of their country.  Students receive a one year scholarship to come to the US and attend a community college. The program pays for their visas and passports, round trip plane tickets, allowance, housing, tuition and everything these students need to survive the year in the US. I’ve learned a lot about this program because SBT has sent many boys to the US as part of this program and one of my students was selected to go and will leave for the US in a couple of weeks!  He’s so excited and so am I although I think I’m much more nervous than he is   He’ll be going to Miami…Miami!  I feel like they should send these kids to Ohio or Wisconsin but Miami!?!  All of my classes lately have been teaching him about the US, what to expect (he’s been watching youtube videos about Miami so his questions are things like…’what’s a nude beach’…’is that legal in the US’…’why is it legal’…), reviewing the materials the US Embassy provided him, helping him fill out his visa form and generally trying to make sure that he is prepared for the next 12 months. I want him to love it, I want him to learn and make friends, I want this experience to open his eyes and his mind and I want him to be safe.  How can I possibly prepare him for what he’s about to experience?!!

Now some of you might wonder why our taxpayer dollars are funding programs like this but trust me when I tell you that the goodwill and positive feelings and example this sets is good for all of us in the US. The US can easily develop a negative reputation and I believe we have an obligation as the richest and most powerful country in the world to help promote principles of democracy, equality of people regardless of background, and prosperity.  After all, isn’t that the American Dream?