The First Semester of “Education Unites: From Camp to Campus”

U.S. Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt and Dr. David Horner, President of the American College of Greece – Deree, meet with refugee students enrolled in the first semester of Education Unites scholarship program.

Ο Πρέσβης των ΗΠΑ Τζέφρυ Πάιατ και ο Πρόεδρος του Αμερικανικού Κολλεγίου Ελλάδας Dr. David Horner συναντούν τους νέους πρόσφυγες που έλαβαν υποτροφία για ακαδημαϊκές σπουδές στο πλαίσιο του προγράμματος Education Unites.

The First Semester o “Education Unites: From Camp to Campus” has started

Seventy eight young refugees have been enrolled in Athens and Thessaloniki

During the first week of October, seventy eight young refugees started their academic studies as part of the “Education Unites: From Camp to Campus” scholarship program, organized by the U.S. Embassy in Athens in collaboration with the American College of Thessaloniki – Anatolia College, Deree -American College of Greece and Perrotis College – American Farm School.

After reviewing over 400 applications and interviewing dozens of refugees and asylum seekers, the three U.S. affiliated colleges have selected the first group of fellows that began their academic studies. For the first semester of the academic year 2017-2018, forty-eight students attend Deree in Athens, fourteen students attend the American College of Thessaloniki, and sixteen students started classes at the Perrotis College in Thessaloniki.

The beneficiaries of the program will attend preparatory English classes, courses in various fields based on their previous knowledge and academic training, and, fundamentally, they will have the opportunity to continue their education and acquire skills and credits that they will be able to use either in Greece or in any other country they move to in the future.

Our collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Immigration Policy, the Municipalities of Athens, Thessaloniki and Piraeus, the Asylum Service, NGOs, translation services and volunteers was critical in attracting the very best qualified applicants.

Classes have started for the young Afghan man who dreams of becoming a pilot; the young lady from Pakistan who wants to become an electrical engineer; the Syrian law student from Aleppo who left her studies unfinished, and the Syrian man who wants to pursue economic and entrepreneurship studies; as well as dozens of other young students who can now aspire to a professional career, a better future, and the possibility of making an essential contribution to any community where they settle.

As a young Syrian wrote in his application: “… the thought that I will have the opportunity to study, and do what I do best, has already put a smile on my face.”

We are pleased to announce the selection process for the spring semester, which started on October 16, 2017.

For application and admissions information, please contact:

· American College of Thessaloniki – Anatolia College: Mona Siksek, Admissions Coordinator, τ. 2310 398-239 | email: msiksek@act.edu | www.act.edu/education-unites

· Deree – The American College of Greece: Kathleen Macdonell, Consultant, tel: 2106009800 (ext. 1511), email: kmacdonell@acg.edu | www.acg.edu/education-unites

· Perrotis College – American Farm School: Ms Penna Leighanne, Education Unites Coordinator, τ. 2310 492-702 | email: newstart@perrotis.edu.gr | www.perrotiscollege.edu.gr/new-start-project/

Deadline for applications: November 24

Inspired by the impact of the “Education Unites” program and aiming at offering academic opportunities to more young refugees, Webster University will also offer 20 scholarships, starting in the spring semester of 2018. For more information applicants can contact Ms. Peggy Manouka, Director of Admissions, Webster University (Tel: 211 990 5300, email: peggymanouka91@webster.edu).

For further information on the “Education Unites” program: https://gr.usembassy.gov/education-unites/

For press issues: OPUS Integrated Communication 210 3242869 |Natalia Katifori: 6972345289 natalia@opusltd.com |Mania Ntanou: 6937056207 communication@opusltd.com.

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