The U.S. Embassy celebrates the opening of the Sheki American Corner
The U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan is pleased to open the Sheki American Corner, located at the Sheki branch of the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University (ASPU) on March 15. Ambassador Litzenberger attended the opening ceremony, delivering brief remarks about the importance of the American Corner as the center of various educational and cultural opportunities for the local community. Chief of Sheki Executive Committee Elkhan Usubov also delivered remarks at the event. Representatives of ASPU Vice Rector Eldar Aslanov and Advisor to the Rector Umid Mehdiyev, and Rector of the Sheki branch of ASPU Rafiq Rasulov also attended the opening. The Sheki American Corner will feature new equipment, technology, and materials, and is now open for language learning and educational programming.
Ambassador Litzenberger said:
“American Corners and our people-to-people ties are the cornerstone of our relationship with the citizens of Azerbaijan. And the work that we will do here – English language programs, youth engagement, and jobs and skills training courses – make a real difference in people’s lives.”
“The English language is a bridge to the world, to a richer life and to improved employment prospects. As more of the world learns about your city’s natural beauty and incredible cultural heritage, the number of visitors will grow. And by offering extracurricular English-language training to Sheki’s youth, we will be helping more local people to benefit from – and drive – the expansion of the local tourism economy.”
During his trip to Sheki, Ambassador Litzenberger also met with alumni of U.S. government exchange programs to learn how their experience in the U.S. has helped them in their careers, and what they are doing to give back to the American Corner and their community in Sheki.
The American Spaces Program, which includes a flagship Baku American Center at the Azerbaijan University of Languages and regional American Corners in Ganja, Kurdemir, Salyan and Khachmaz, now in Sheki and soon in Lankaran, is an excellent resource for Azerbaijanis looking to improve their English, access information about the United States, learn more about educational or exchange opportunities, or participate in innovative high-tech projects. The Corners offer lectures, conversation clubs, and a variety of other activities, as well as capacity building professional programs for everyone in the community.
For more information about the Sheki American Corner, please visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/@ShekiACorner or contact the U.S. Embassy’s Information Center at 488 3300, x3617