American Councils for International Education is proud to announce its collaboration with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the Government of Kiribati on the Kiribati Threshold Program. This initiative seeks to spur economic growth and reduce poverty for I-Kiribati through a $29.1 million MCC investment in the country’s employment sector.
Kiribati, an Oceania Island nation in the Central Pacific, faces unique challenges due to its remote location and limited economic opportunities. A significant focus of the Kiribati Threshold Program is the bolstering of international labor mobility for the youth of Kiribati. Over 50% of the country's population, who are predominantly under the age of 25, faces unemployment due to geographical and economic limitations. The Kiribati Threshold Program is designed to address these critical economic barriers through three activities.
- Mwakuri Aika a Raraoi Ibukimi 1 Activity (the “MARI 1 Activity”)
- Mwakuri Aika a Raraoi Ibukimi 2 Activity (the “MARI 2 Activity”)
- Uaiakinan ao Uarokoan Toronibwaia I-Kiribati Activity (the “UUTI Activity”)
American Councils is set to administer the UUTI Activity – Youth Skills Camps and Scholarships. This activity aims to develop work-readiness skills among I-Kiribati students aged 15-17 years, offering transformative opportunities for international exposure and skill acquisition. The UUTI Activity aims to equip Kiribati youth with critical work readiness skills such as oral and written communication, workplace behavior, information and communication technology (ICT), and English language skills to enhance their preparedness and competitiveness in the international labor market. The activity will provide three types of specialized study opportunities for Kiribati high school students:
- Three-Week Youth Skills Camp in Fiji: Targeting students with limited international exposure and English language proficiency, this program will concentrate on developing English language, communication, information and communication technology (ICT), and cross-cultural workplace skills.
- Four-Week Youth Skills Camp in the U.S.: This program invites Kiribati students to the United States to participate in a diverse range of skill-building courses and American cultural experiences. The agenda includes community service, interaction with U.S. peers, and home hospitality, significantly boosting participants' English language and cross-cultural skills.
- 10-Month U.S. Scholarship Program: This comprehensive scholarship enables students to spend an academic year in the U.S., attending high school and living with an American family. Students will also participate in enhancement activities designed to increase their English language, communication, ICT, and cross-cultural workplace skills.
American Councils will oversee all aspects of the UUTI Activity, including logistics related to participants, recruitment, selection, travel, programming, accommodation and maintenance on program, alumni engagement, and emergency support.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is an independent U.S. government agency working to reduce global poverty through economic growth. Created in 2004, MCC provides time-limited grants and assistance to countries that meet rigorous standards for good governance, fighting corruption and respecting democratic rights.