JUNE EDUCATION FAIRS DRAW THE BRAVE AND MOTIVATED --

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 000717

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TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SCUL KMDR KPAO OIIP TX
SUBJECT: JUNE EDUCATION FAIRS DRAW THE BRAVE AND MOTIVATED --
TURKMENISTAN'S YOUTH

ASHGABAT 00000717 001.8 OF 003


SUMMARY
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1. (SBU) Throughout June post co-sponsored a series of successful
education fairs in Ashgabat and with each region's American Corners.
The fairs, organized principally by implementing partner, American
Councils (ACCELS),were successful despite almost no support, but
also with no interference, from the Government of Turkmenistan.
Attendance was high at most fairs as the American Corners filled up
to and beyond capacity. The large turnout and numerous questions to
speakers showed the public's continued strong interest in U.S.
Government sponsored educational programming and resources. End
Summary.

LACK OF ADVERTISING DOESN'T HOLD BACK ASHGABAT ED FAIR
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2. (SBU) The June 3 Education Fair in the Ashgabat Children's
Library (former National Library) kicked off the Fair series,
drawing several hundred Turkmenistanis despite host government
delays that hampered post advertising. The day-long series of
seminars and presentations involved Embassy and implementing agency
staff as well as representatives of nongovernmental organizations,
local and international educational institutions and alumni of U.S.
exchange programs. Attendees ranged from primary school age through
older adult, with the bulk being of secondary school through college
age -- came to the Fair over the course of the day, browsing the
information booths that filled the library's ground floor, and
attending the 21 presentations held later throughout the library.
Post's key Ministry of Education working contact Nursahet Bayramov
attended for the morning opening event, spoke to post's implementing
partner representatives and took materials from several of the
booths. The Public Affairs Section, USAID, the United Nations,
embassy partner organizations ACCELS, IREX and the American Bar
Association (ABA/CEELI),local nongovernmental organizations and
educational centers, as well as regional universities KIMEP (in
Almaty) and the American University in Central Asia (in Bishkek) had
information booths and provided consultations. KIMEP's presence at
the Fair was the first in several years because of difficulties in
obtaining a visa for Turkmenistan -- and allowed the university to
publicize a new scholarship for Turkmenistani students. Attendees'
questions during the seminars revealed a high level of knowledge of
U.S. sponsored educational programs. (Note. Two students admitted
that they and other students had avoided registering and completing
surveys for fear of their participation being documented by the
Government of Turkmenistan. Thus, reported attendance of 350 people
at this event is probably lower than the actual number. End Note.)

TURKMENABAT EDUCATION FAIR
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Turkmenabat's American Corner drew a standing-room-only crowd of
about 150 people for its Fair on June 9. The half-day was
boisterous and busy, drawing mostly teenagers with some English
skills who were interested in post-high school level programs such
as UGRAD, MUSKIE and TEA. A local community organization shuttled
in about ten disabled youth toward the end of the day but otherwise
most attendees came from Turkmenabat city -- resulting in a low
percentage of ethnic Turkmen youth compared to that of Russian,
Azeri, Uzbek and other minorities. A local official who has been a
ringleader of harassment of USG programs and American Corner
activities in the region, Kerimberdy Masharipov, turned out early in
the day to escort the regional head of the Ministry of Education to
the Fair. Though he sat quietly through two sessions, the Education
Ministry chief was, in keeping with post's previous contact with
him, wary of contact, but cordial and supportive of post's programs.
Embassy, ACCELS, IREX, and American Corner staff gave presentations
on educational programs until the late afternoon, followed by a
debate tournament on educational issues organized by USG alumni.
Masharipov stayed at the Corner until the end of the last
activities; in the end he cornered several local teachers and
threatened them about participating in U.S. Government teachers'
exchange programs. (Note: Though one of the most heavily-trafficked
Corners, Turkmenabat struggles with outreach to villages outside the
capital because of sustained harassment of Corner visitors, students

ASHGABAT 00000717 002.14 OF 003


and teachers. End Note.)

MARY EDUCATION FAIR SIZZLES
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3. (SBU) The Mary American Corner's director, staff, and volunteers
displayed a continued ability to surpass expectations in their
organization of the June 16 Mary Weleyat education fair. Despite
the intense heat and lack of air-conditioning, superior
word-of-mouth advertising and networking led to the highest and most
diverse attendance of any regional education fair. Junior Faculty
Development, Cochran, UGRAD, TASP, and FLEX program alumni attended
along with over 150 other participants. Several students from the
Mary Institute of Energy and Gas attended and eagerly asked when
President Berdimuhamedov's announced technical exchanges would
begin. The director secured access to another room that doubled the
amount of panel discussions or presentations given and allowed more
people to participate in the event. A "Neutral Turkmenistan"
reporter covered the event by recording the Embassy representative's
opening remarks, presentation on online education searches, and
interviews with staff. (Note: The paper never published the
article on this event. End Note.)

DASHOGUZ LACKS THE SPACE TO HOLD INTEREST IN FAIR
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4. (SBU) The June 23 fair in the Dashoguz American Corner achieved
a low attendance of 78 due to space shortages. The conference
room's narrow shape and necessary furniture left little space for
sitting or standing. Participants still eagerly consumed handouts
and packed sessions out into the adjoining room. However, many
people left frustrated that they couldn't adequately participate or
simply turned away when seeing the crowd spilling outside of the
American Corner. A government representative quietly observed a few
sessions and then left without incident.

TURKMENBASHY HOTEL HOSTS FAIR
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5. (SBU) The last regional education fair took place in
Turkmenbashy city, where the American Corner has been prevented from
reopening since May 2006. Nonetheless, the event was a huge
success, attracting more than 120 young adults, teachers, community
activists, students, and NGO members -- and local government
representatives -- to the Turkmenbashy Hotel. This was the most
diverse audience gathered for the Turkmenbashy educational fair
since its inception in 2004. The main conference hall seated 90
people but about 30 people stood throughout the fair's presentations
by ACCELS, IREX, Public Affairs and USAID staff. The deputy head of
the culture department of the Turkmenbashy city mayor's office
attended the fair, talked pleasantly with Embassy officers and local
staff, but left towards the end of the sessions without comment.
After half an hour, the crowd had snatched up most of the paper
handouts at the fair information booths. The information sessions
ended with an alumni panel presentation about the education exchange
experience -- from applying to programs through the re-entry to
Turkmenistan -- by alumni of several U.S. sponsored exchange
programs.

COMMENT
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6. (SBU) Post outreach in education and to youth in Turkmenistan
continues to flourish despite host government harassment, largely
because of the presence of American Corners, active exchange program
alumni in the regions, English language learning programs and
resources, as well as the lack of other educational opportunities in
Turkmenistan. The fairs also represented a chance to invite local
government officials and further dispel suspicions commonly held
about U.S. programming. However, limited Internet access and
continued host government resistance to foreign ideas and
programming -- as especially in Turkmenabat -- mean that the
American Corners and post-sponsored activities such as education
fairs continue to be crucial to mission outreach. The reopening of
the Turkmenbashy American Corner would ensure even greater
attendance at such events and help sustain mission programming in

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the ethnically diverse Balkan region. End Comment.

HOAGLAND