They graduated recently from a US-sponsored programme in Yaounde's Pilot Linguistic Centre.

Twenty-nine young Cameroonians from economically-disadvantaged families who successfully completed a two-year English instruction programme at the Yaounde Pilot Linguistic Centre, have been urged to use any available occasion to display their newly-acquired English language abilities, leadership skills as well as the knowledge of the United States of America.

The acting Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Yaounde, Gregory Thome, made the call during the graduation ceremony on December 11, 2013 in the presence of the Minister of Secondary Education, Louis Bapes Bapes. The training that started on February 22, 2012 was sponsored by a FCFA 23 million grant from the American State Department through the English Access Microscholarship Programme.

"Our mission was to equip these young Cameroonians with appropriate tools necessary for a better understanding of the American culture as well as an efficient and practical use of American English,' said the Director of the Pilot Linguistic Centre, Guillaume Raphael Tchebetchou.

While lauding the initiative, Minister Bapes Bapes said the English Access Microscholarship Programme is not only an opportunity to enhance bilingualism but also one that fosters lifelong learning in Cameroon's educational system and enforces cooperation ties between both countries.

Since the first Access programme in Cameroon was launched in 2011 at the American Language Center for students, a total of 132 young Cameroonians have benefitted from the opportunity to improve their English language skills.