Seven students from West Bengal and adjoining States in eastern India have been selected for the U.S. State Department-funded Community College Initiative Programme (CCIP) 2014 aimed at imparting practical skills through vocational and cultural studies.
“The participants of the programme can develop skills in their chosen sector. They may earn an academic certificate in their field of study and gain first-hand practical experience through professional internships, service learning, and community engagement,” said JJ Joria, Director of American Center, Kolkata, here on Monday.
While four of the seven students are from the city, a mass communication student from Guwahati, an aspirant lawyer from Ranchi, and an entrepreneur trying to make a mark in the footwear industry in Manipur, have been selected. The one-year certificate programme is open to students above 18 years, who have passed their class XII board exam, but have not completed their graduation. The applicants must have some work experience in the field they want to study.
Angela Bernadette Ryle had passed class XII from Loreto, Sealdah, and was working as a Childline team leader at Rainbow Home for Street Children. She is headed for Lakewood, Washington, where she will be studying Early Childhood Education at Pierce Community College. “I was a street child. I love small children and want to dedicate my life in helping street children. This programme will be a big push in that direction,” she said.
Exuberating similar confidence, Kh Anjalee Devi, a first-year student in Manipur, who runs her own footwear business, said the one-year programme would help her develop skills of an entrepreneur. She will be joining Houston Community College, Houston, Texas.
Two undergraduate students of commerce, Zeeshan Ali and Ashok Pal, are taking a break from their B. Com to study Businesses Management and Information and Technology at community colleges in the USA. This is the second year of the CCIP in eastern India and out of 22 students, who had applied from all over eastern India, seven were chosen for the 2014-2015 session.
