YOUTH OUTREACH VISIT FOCUSES ON COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

UNCLAS BOGOTA 002345 UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON ENRG EPET PGOV CO SUBJECT: YOUTH OUTREACH VISIT FOCUSES ON COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ¶1. (U) SUMMARY. The DCM traveled on June 27 to the city of Barranquilla (in the Caribbean coast department of Atlantico) to visit a drug demand prevention program sponsored by the Lion's Club International and to participate in the inauguration ceremony for the Latin American Little League Tournament. The visit highlighted U.S. assistance efforts to counter drug demand and improve the quality of life through community activities such as baseball. END SUMMARY. SUCCESSFUL DRUG DEMAND PREVENTION PROGRAM -------------- ¶2. (U) The Deputy Chief of Mission visited Centro de Educacisn para la Rehabilitacisn de Lenguaje (CERAL) and observed the successful teaching methods of the Lion's Club's "Skills for Life," a drug demand prevention program that involves the entire community. Since 2007 the Lion's Club has received two USD 100,000 grants from the Embassy's Narcotics Affairs Section. The program is taught in 19 departments in Colombia reaching more than 30,000 children and 900 teachers. In Barranquilla the program is implemented in 16 schools, including CERAL where 105 children with auditory difficulties receive instruction. The DCM recognized the program by presenting a plaque to Ana Beatriz Soto de Avila, Lion's Club leader in Barranquilla. BASEBALL DIPLOMACY AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT -------------- ¶3. (U) Barranquilla was selected as the official host of the XLIII Latin American Little League Tournament. In addition to two teams representing Colombia, 11- and 12-year-old players traveled from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, and Venezuela to participate. The DCM participated in the inauguration ceremony for the tournament held at a newly constructed stadium in the industrial center of Barranquilla. The DCM had the opportunity to meet with industry leaders from throughout the Barranquilla community and the organizers of the tournament, but also with the players from the six teams represented, their coaches, and parents. This was another opportunity for the DCM to convey the important message of drug demand prevention and community involvement. He was also able to mention the importance of including baseball in the 2016 Olympics. BROWNFIELD