BENIN: Report-Black History Month Celebration at New

UNCLAS COTONOU 000111 DEPARTMENT FOR AF/PD (ANYASO, TITUS, LISENBY),AF/W (ACOOK) DEPARTMENT FOR IIP/IR PARIS FOR ARS (DWINTON) SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KIRC OIIP KPAO BN SUBJECT: BENIN: Report-Black History Month Celebration at New Covenant American School International (NCASI) ¶1. SUMMARY: On February 19, 2009, PAO Rhonda Watson spoke at the New Covenant American School International as part of Black History Month celebration. During the visit to the school, the PAO invited the students to visit the American Cultural Center and they came two weeks later for a film screening of "Akeelah and the Bee" after which the PAO presented the school with books for their library. END SUMMARY. ¶2. DATE OF ACTIVITY: February 19 and March 4; Second quarter, FY 09 ¶3. PROGRAM JUSTIFICATION/OBJECTIVES: At the invitation of the New Covenant American School International, the PAO and IRCD paid a visit to the school to make a presentation on Black History Month. The school serves pre-school through Grade 12 students and the English curriculum is based on the American system of education. In her speech, the PAO pointed out the importance of Black History Month as it offers the opportunity to pay tribute to the contribution of African Americans to American history and to motivate students to follow their positive examples. Taking the example of President Barack Obama, she encouraged the students to work hard in order to fulfill their dreams. ¶4. MPP UMBRELLA THEMES AND AUDIENCE REACHED: Promotion of Education and Mutual Understanding. Approximately one hundred students, teachers and parents attended the two events. ¶5. ACTIVITIES/IMPACT/RESULT: Black History Month celebration at NCASI included a PAO presentation on the school premises and a film screening at the American Cultural Center's IRC. On February 19, the PAO went to the New Covenant American School to deliver a talk about Black History Month and lessons to be drawn from the African American history. Using the election of President Barack Obama as the first African American elected President of the United States as evidence of the advances in American society and the result of personal preparation, the PAO encouraged the young people to have dreams and work hard to fulfill them. When asked what they want to be when they grow up, several of the children responded that they wanted to become a President. The PAO emphasized that such lofty dreams would mean the students would have to apply themselves diligently to their studies. As a follow up of this meeting at the school, the PAO invited students and teachers to a film screening of "Akeelah and the Bee," which was shown at the American Cultural Center on March 4, 2009. At the end of the film, the PAO held a short spelling contest and presented gift books to the Director of the School. Participants enjoyed the film and the Director of the School expressed his appreciation of this initiative from the Public Affairs Section (PAS). He promised to work closely with PAS for more educational activities. ¶6. NON-USG SOURCES OF IN-COUNTRY FUNDING/IN KIND SUPPORT: None ¶7. QUALITY OF USG SUPPORT: Excellent. The visit to the school and the film screening at the IRC paved the way for future exchanges and gave the opportunity for teachers and parents to know more about the American Cultural Center's offerings, especially the library. After the visit, many of the participants submitted their request to be registered as library members. BROWN