Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STOCKHOLM716
2008-10-27 12:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:  

OPPORTUNITY FAIR ATTRACTS HUNDREDS OF PARTICIPANTS

Tags:  PHUM PREL SCUL SW IQ 
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P 271244Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3837
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000716 


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL SCUL SW IQ

SUBJECT: OPPORTUNITY FAIR ATTRACTS HUNDREDS OF PARTICIPANTS

UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000716


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL SCUL SW IQ

SUBJECT: OPPORTUNITY FAIR ATTRACTS HUNDREDS OF PARTICIPANTS


1. (U) Summary: On October 16, Sdertdlje, the Swedish town of
75,000 persons, about one third of whom are Iraqi born, collaborated
with Embassy Stockholm to host the Sdertdlje Opportunity Fair "USA
2009." The fair was designed to provide information and advice on
the myriad opportunities for people who would like to spend a short
time abroad in the United States, whether as students, au pairs, or
interns. Ambassador Wood and Sdertdlje Mayor Anders Lago opened
the event, expressing pleasure over the continued cooperation
between the city and the embassy. Over 700 people attended the fair
where they could talk one on one with representatives from various
placement organizations and participate in two panel discussions.
The panelists for the first discussion were all returnees who shared
their experiences living in the United States. The panelists for
the second discussion discussed how to apply to universities and for
visas. Both panels engaged in lively discussions. The event was
covered favorably in both printed and broadcast media. End summary.


2. (U) The Opportunity Fair in Sdertdlje continues the
cooperation between the U.S. Embassy and the city of Sdertdlje. In
the Spring of 2008, Anders Lago, Mayor of Sdertdlje spoke with the
Ambassador about what could be done to help the Iraqi immigrants in
Sdertdlje, suggesting that perhaps the Embassy could provide a
number of green cards that the city could then distribute.
Ambassador Wood explained that this would not be possible, but that
there could be some form of cooperation to help the immigrants gain
some kind of American experience. Working with the city, it was
decided to hold a fair to which organizations working with short
term exchanges to the United States would be invited.


3. (U) For many young Swedes, travelling abroad for a temporary stay
is almost a rite of passage. Most travelers abroad opt to go to the
United States to pursue short term employment (such as Au Pair),
practical internships or studies at both the High School and College
levels. Many long term residents of Sweden are intricately familiar
with the types of opportunities available for such short term stays
in the United States. However, the immigrant community is often not
aware of these opportunities. Thus, a fair highlighting these
organizations to the immigrant community was a welcome event.


4. (U) In total, over 15 organizations participated in the fair,
including the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce USA, the Swedish
American Chamber of Commerce New York, the Fulbright Commission, the
Center for International Studies, Youth for Understanding, Kilroy
Education, Rotary International and others. All of the
participating organizations were pleased with the event, expressing
willingness to engage in a similar event in the future.


5. (U) Most of the 700 participants were pleased with the event and
the information that they received. One of the visitors, one of the
visitors, David Hanna, said, "There are a lot of people that can
help me out with the questions that I have...how I can reach people,
how I can contact the universities. So it's pretty helpful, that's
why I'm here." Although concerted efforts were made to inform
Sdertdlje's population that the fair would be an information-only
fair (i.e. there would be no internships, placements, jobs, or green
cards handed out),some still arrived at the fair with that
expectation and were disappointed.


6. (U) Another highlight of the fair was two panel discussions. The
first panel was comprised of returnees from various programs,
including one student, one au pair, and two interns. Two members of
the panel were of immigrant ancestry and thus resonated with the
group. One of the interns, Elham Nogoki, particularly poignantly
related the process she went through to get the internship,
explaining that neither she nor her family ever thought that she
would get the internship, based on her appearance and name. Due to
her success, however, she inspired the attendees by letting them
know that opportunities were out there for immigrants as well. The
second panel covered the "how to"s of applying to colleges in the
United States and for Visas, with an educational advisor from the
Fulbright Program and post's Consul as speakers.


7. (U) The event was also largely covered favorably in the press,
both in the printed and broadcast media, by local and national
outlets, with just one outlet focusing on the fact that jobs were
not available for the taking at the fair.


8. (U) Long-term results of the opportunity fair remain to be seen.
Follow up is planned with the participating organizations to see the
effects of the fair on both applications and placements.

WOOD