DUSHANBE, August 17, Asia-Plus -- The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and American Councils for International Education (ACCELS) have announced the launch of the fifth Community Connections Program in Tajikistan – Secondary School Textbook Authors for Tajikistan.

According to information from the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, the USAID-funded Community Connections Program provides an important opportunity for American people and people from Tajikistan to work together to address common professional challenges while expanding their social and cultural understanding.   As business and professional communities of both countries rapidly become integrated, opportunities for positive relations between American people and the people of Tajikistan are increasingly important.

This program offers home-stay, community based, three-to-five week practical trainings in the United States for business and professional organization leaders from Tajikistan.

Secondary School Textbook Authors program participants will travel to the U.S. in October 2006.  Persons having previous, demonstrable experience producing textbooks, as well as teaching experience will be invited to participate in this program.  The program will focus on textbook specialists, including authors, designers, artists, publishers, textbook evaluators, and curriculum developers.