It’s a dream come true for Md Mukram Ali, a trainee in refrigeration and air-conditioning course, and V. Sai Krishna Sruthi, a second year degree student at SGCSR College, Rajam, for they both have been selected by the U.S. Consulate General to pursue courses under Community College Initiative Programme (CCIP). They both study in institutes run by GMR Varalakshmi Foundation (GMRVF).
The programme supports students to study at an American community college for a year.
Ali, a resident of Shamshabad village, comes from a poor background. After his Intermediate, he joined the AC course offered by the Foundation. In U.S., he would pursue a course in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning at Northampton Community College, Bethlehem city, Pennsylvania State.
Sruthi comes from a middle-class family from Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh. She is in her second year degree in BSc (Electronics) and would study computer information systems (CIS)/computer science (CS) at Bunker Hill Community College in Massachusetts, USA.
Students generally are chosen from underprivileged communities and after they apply, a telephonic interview is done followed by a test in English communication. The entire expense – fees, airfare, boarding and lodging, books and medical aid – would be borne by the U.S. government. They would also be paid a monthly stipend for incidental expenses, a press release said.
“We are happy that our students are breaking the barriers and making a mark for themselves on the global canvas of learning. We are also thankful to the U.S. government for providing a platform for students to expand their knowledge horizon,” said Meena Raghunathan, GMRVF director.
