LESOTHO: REBIRTH OF EXCHANGE PROGRAM ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

UNCLAS MASERU 000175 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/S, ECA/P/A E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OEXC KPAO SCUL LT SUBJECT: LESOTHO: REBIRTH OF EXCHANGE PROGRAM ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ¶1. SUMMARY: On April 11, Ambassador Nolan hosted 30 members of the U.S. Exchange Programs Alumni Association at the Chief of Mission residence in Maseru. The Public Affairs Section (PAS) gathered the association, established three years ago but generally inactive, in order to reinvigorate the group and brainstorm concepts for activities during the coming year. The participants reacted positively to the event and put forth a multitude of ideas for activities for consideration by the executive committee. The event ended with the organization's members pledging to get the association back on track, and Ambassador Nolan generously volunteered the residence for the next meeting. END SUMMARY. -------------- Reinvigorating the Alumni Association -------------- ¶2. On April 11, Ambassador Nolan hosted members of the U.S. Exchange Programs Alumni Association at the Chief of Mission residence in Maseru. In attendance were 30 alumni of various USG-sponsored programs over the past 20 years. The association, formally established three years ago but generally inactive, met with a full agenda established by the Public Affairs Section (PAS) including: 1) to formally meet the Ambassador and key embassy staff; 2) to reinvigorate the group and familiarize its members with the new executive committee; and 3) to brainstorm concepts for activities during the coming year. -------------- A Working Dinner -------------- ¶3. After introductory networking and welcome remarks by Ambassador Nolan, Embassy Maseru's PAS split the alumni into various interest groups, including those focused on health, business, education, law, and media. Over dinner, the groups were encouraged to discuss ideas for Alumni Association activity over the coming year. Following dinner, each of the five groups selected a representative to share a synopsis of the group's ideas with the entire association. Representatives shared concepts included marketing ideas for Lesotho as a tourism destination and exporter, youth literacy initiatives, community journalism training, and new publications designed to improve civics awareness. -------------- Positive Reactions -------------- ¶4. The participants' reaction to this event was highly positive. Many expressed their eagerness to be active participants in the organization. As the evening drew to a close, the prominent business people and government officials of the organization pledged to use their expertise and contacts to develop activities which will allow the Association to contribute to disadvantaged communities in Lesotho. The Association's executive committee pledged to select several projects to enact from among those envisioned by the interest teams before the next meeting. -------------- Infectious Enthusiasm -------------- ¶5. COMMENT: Lesotho's alumni association has been dormant for several years, and Embassy Maseru's Public Affairs Section (PAS) organized this event in an effort to reinvigorate the group. The success of the evening's activities created an infectious enthusiasm, and Ambassador Nolan offered to host another meeting of the group at the residence in July. Through continued work with the alumni association's executive committee, we hope to the organization evolve into an independently operating group in the coming months. END SUMMARY. MURPHY