SUMMARY OF PUBLIC DIPLOMACY EVENTS FOR APRIL-JUNE 2009

UNCLAS ASMARA 000231 DEPT FOR ECA/PE/V, AF/PD, AF/EX, AF/EPS, AND AF/E E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO SCUL OEXC AMGT ER SUBJECT: SUMMARY OF PUBLIC DIPLOMACY EVENTS FOR APRIL-JUNE 2009 ¶1. Summary of Public Diplomacy sponsored special events for the time period of April-June 2009: a) Monthly alumni American club lecture over 200 guests in attendance at each event: April: Global Climate Change and Global Warming May: Eritrea's Journey to Independence June: The American Revolution: A Story of Independence, Liberation, and Freedom b) Outreach and special events: April: American Center (IRC) celebrates Arbor Day with 45 children by planting flowers, singing songs, and readings. Earth Day celebration: Over 150 Eritrean guests attend the lecture title "The Challenges of Desertification and the Efforts Undertaken to Mitigate the Effects." IRC distributes 100 seedlings to patrons as part of agricultural awareness. PAS visits five elementary schools in Asmara to provide book donations. PAS hosts 100 guests for a space film festival featuring the following IIP films: Welcome to Mars, Dead or Alive in Mars, Race to the Moon, and Saturn's Titan-Voyage to the Mystery Moon. PAS partners with a secondary school for an entertaining Women's Day celebration. Students perform monologues, debates, and poetry readings for 100 guests. May: PAS visits the Ministry of Education, special education and resource center. Embassy Asmara provided a self-help grant in 1997. PAS hosts 60 artists for the IIP film show, "Craft in America." PAS visits an Islamic School in Asmara to donate children's Arabic books. June: On June 4, PAS hosts 100 guests to witness President Obama's historic speech in Cairo "A New Beginning." On June 23, the American Center (IRC) began a ten week personal writing statement course for ten prospective U.S. graduate students by utilizing AAA educational advising funds. PAS hosts 90 artists for the IIP film show, "Craft in America II." ¶2. A summary of Public Diplomacy sponsored regular programs for the time period of April-June 2009 and number of participants: a) Monthly women's round table (16) b) Monthly reader's club (70) c) Weekly film programs for children and adults (2506) d) Weekly computer orientation training at the IRC (760) e) Bi-weekly educational advising (541) f) Monthly online quiz at the American Center (172) g) Bi-monthly IIP English "Connect with English" (196) ¶3. The approximate number of individuals who came to use the American Center (IRC) and American Corners for the time period of April-June 2009 is as follows: Asmara: 9,569 Massawa: 3,597 Keren: 2,547 Dekemhare: 4,545 Note: These numbers count only individuals using the American Center's information and internet services and do not include those attending special events, lectures, films, or educational advising. ¶4. A calendar of upcoming Embassy Asmara's events and programs is provided on the Embassy's website under "Upcoming Events" at www.eritrea.us.embassy.gov. Summaries and photographs of special events are routinely posted on the website. MCMULLEN