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“These bright young men and women didn’t expect the chance to study outside rural, indigenous Mexico. But they are embarking on a life-changing journey that will expand their view of the world and by extension, the world-view of their families and communities,” said U.S. Ambassador Tony Garza as he greeted the scholars who received their visas at the U.S. Embassy on July 21. “The people of the United States believe that education is the foundation for freedom and democracy; by providing these scholarships we demonstrate our commitment to those values.”
This year, 44 scholarship recipients were selected from the states of Chiapas, Queretaro, Guanajuato, Nayarit, Jalisco, and Michoacan. They were previously honored at an Award Ceremony on May 15th at the Museo Nacional de Antropologia attended by their families, community representatives and U.S. and Mexican government officials.
“Almost one third of the scholarships under the Training, Internships, Exchanges, and Scholarships (TIES) Initiative are especially designated for students from rural Mexico and indigenous communities who rarely get a chance for higher education abroad,” said Ambassador Garza.
Students participate in programs at American community colleges designed to improve their technical skills so that upon their return to Mexico, they can address the economic and development issues they face in their communities.
Administered by Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., this program is divided in two main components: two-year scholarships for high school graduates from rural poor areas and one-year scholarships for indigenous teachers working in their communities.
Last year, 22 Mexican high-school graduates received scholarships and are successfully completing their study programs in the U.S. The Georgetown program also assists participants with job placement and follow-up skill building sessions.
The United States government is providing a total of $35 million dollars over the next six years for TIES, supporting at least 750 scholarships and 35 partnerships between Mexican and U.S. universities. TIES is a public-private alliance with collaborating partners contributing an additional $15 million to make the total investment in education $50 million dollars.
Presidents Bush and Fox announced the TIES Initiative to advance the objectives of the U.S.-Mexico Partnership for Prosperity in September 2001. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) office in Mexico implements the TIES initiative.
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