US-Funded Program Offers New Opportunities to Bulgaria's Youth

The USAID Pathways mission aims at developing the technical computer expertise, English language and entrepreneurship skills of Bulgarian high school students in grades 10, 11 and 12. File photo

Bulgarian youth from around the country will have a new opportunity to develop computer and English language skills thanks to the launch of a new Educational Public-Private Partnership named “Pathways”.

The partnership is founded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and is based in the Bulgarian city of Pazardzhik, the US Embassy in Sofia informs Tuesday.

Launched in May of this year, the Pathways mission is to provide the education, resources, and support necessary for Bulgarian high school students in grades 10, 11 and 12 to further develop their technical computer expertise, English language and entrepreneurship skills and increase the overall competitiveness of Bulgarian students.

The idea for Pathways was developed by Bulgarian student Angel Kelchev while he was attending the Harvard Kennedy School in the US. The curriculum uses remote and on-site instruction, multimedia resources, and modern equipment and features Kelchev’s innovative approach to delivery of high-quality education to Bulgarian students.

Pathways is designed to motivate students to further their education at institutions of higher learning in Bulgaria and abroad as well as encourage them to focus on technology and entrepreneurship-related disciplines.

Students who successfully complete specialized courses such as Sisco Network will receive internationally accepted certificates.

In addition to high-school students, Pathways will provide continuing education to adults who seek to transition to new careers or enhance their productivity by gaining additional knowledge.

The project brings together the efforts of a diverse group of partners from five countries and received extensive strategic guidance from professionals and academics from top educational institutions and businesses from the United States and beyond.