2005 Press Releases
Summer Camp Helps Children of Bashkortastan Learn English
June 23, 2005
On Monday, June 20th the 2nd annual English language camp sponsored the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and the Consulate General in Yekaterinburg was opened in Ufa Secondary School #35.љ The opening was attended by Consul General Scott Rauland, Ms. Fauziya Amineva of the Bashkortastan Ministry of Education, and Dr. Vyacheslav Schvaiko of the American-Bashkir Intercollege. Consul General Scott Rauland presented a set of American games and provided instruction in the American sport of softball (a "cousin" of baseball) to the children.
The Embassy of the USA and the U.S.Consulate in Yekaterinburg are promoting the study of English in the Bashkortastan during two summer camps in Ufa Secondary School #35 and Bashkir High School #136 in collaboration with the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Bashkortostan and the American-Bashkir InterCollege.љљ The summer camps will both run for three weeks in the city of Ufa to promote the study of English and the United States among secondary school students of English. The project began last year in Ufa and has become a model, pilot project due to its innovative curriculum and the inclusion of alumni of USG exchange programs as teachers and camp counselors.љ This project is the first of its kind in the Russian Federation, one that is directed at giving opportunities to low-income children from the Community at large. The program is coordinated through the English Language Office of the U.S. Embassy Moscow, and the Public Affairs section of the US Consulate in Yekaterinburg.љ Dr. Bridget F. Gersten, English Language Officer for the Russian Federation, has assisted in designing this program to meet the needs of local youth in Ufa.љ The project will reach 200 children who can benefit from the training by improving their English communication skills as well as leadership skills and an understanding of civic education. Such proficiency in English will give them many opportunities as English is a global language. The program is taking
place June 20 to July 8 and July 11 to 29.
