BENIN: BLOOD DRIVE MUSLIM COMMUNITY PROJECT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COTONOU 000515 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/PD (WHARTON, EKEMP, SANCHEZCROWE),PD/IIP McMICHAEL), AF/W (VHARPER) PARIS FOR ARS (DWINTON) and AFRICA WATCHER POSTS FOR PAOS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO OIIP SCUL KISL BN SUBJECT: BENIN: BLOOD DRIVE MUSLIM COMMUNITY PROJECT COTONOU 00000515 001.3 OF 002 ¶1. SUMMARY: On September 16, 2009, the American Embassy in collaboration with the interfaith dialogue committee organized the first blood drive community project at the Mosque of Cadjehoun. This blood drive community project was identified during the interfaith dialogue conference held on September 10, 2009, in response to President Obama's call for an interfaith day of volunteer service. END SUMMARY. ¶2. Program description: On September 10, 2009, the U.S. Embassy in Cotonou hosted a conference on the theme: Religion and Development: Interfaith Dialogue at the American Cultural Center. The American Embassy seized the opportunity of Ramadan to express solidarity and share President Barack Obama's message with Muslims in Benin who constitute about 20% of the population. This gathering also served as an opportunity to get local stakeholders' feedback on what approaches would be of greatest interest to them to pursue in partnership with the United States of America. The conference gave the local stakeholders a unique opportunity to voice their opinion on how to advance President Barack Obama's policy priorities, as outlined in his Cairo speech. All were unanimous on fostering the dialogue between the U.S.A and the world for a better understanding, through exchange programs. They stressed the role the U.S. should play as leader, to help developing countries fight poverty and corruption, and promote peacekeeping, good governance, justice, democracy, education, and most especially girls' education and women's empowerment. Participants also brainstormed and identified a blood drive community project in response to President Obama's call for an Interfaith Day of Service. A follow-up committee of 10 members will be responsible for implementing this project. ¶3. On September 28, the interfaith follow up committee that was set up to work on implementing the project, met with the Cultural Affairs Assistant and the Embassy medical Doctor at the American Cultural Center to discuss and identify the blood drive centers and the role the religious leaders and the American Embassy should play in order to successfully implement the project. An emphasis was put on communication and sensitizing the population about the importance of donating blood. They identified the following activities for the awareness raising campaign: (1) dissemination of information in French and local languages, in Koranic schools, mosques and churches,about the importance of donating blood. (2) collaboration with religious associations outside of Cotonou to raise people's awareness about the necessity of volunteering to donate blood and the advantages related to it. ¶4. The Embassy's role was to: Write the press release and organize media coverage of the event; provide tents for the blood drive centers; and provide transportation for the bank blood team. ¶5. The interfaith committee members asked many questions related to the advantages of donating the blood, the periodicity for donating blood, the management of the blood donated and the confidentially of the test results. They said they needed to learn more about the topic before beginning the communication campaign so that they could answer eventual questions from donors. The American Cultural Center worked in collaboration with the chief doctor of the blood bank to get the answers to all of these questions and to invite the blood bank mobile team. ¶6. Post also held an Iftar dinner at the Charge's residence on September 16, 2009, to celebrate Ramadan with Muslim contacts. This Iftar was designed for religious leaders, the preachers, High Muslim officials, and gathered Imams from all leading Cotonou-based mosques. Also in attendance were the leaders of Muslim and Youth Association, as well as Muslim women's associations. This dinner served as an opportunity for the Charge to relay President's Barack Obama's Ramadan message, and pinpoint his vision about interfaith dialogue. Post distributed calendars on the Diversity and the richness of Islam in America as gratuities to the guests. ¶7. MPP UMBRELLA THEMES AND AUDIENCE REACHED: Promoting Human Rights and Mutual Understanding. 50 participants, including Muslims and non-Muslims participated in the blood drive that was covered by media outlets including Golfe and Carrefour TV, and print media. Estimated audience reached: 3.5 million. ¶8. IMMEDIATE RESULTS /IMPACT: The interfaith conference program was designed to bring together the leaders of the local religious communities, representatives of the civil society and members of the COTONOU 00000515 002.3 OF 002 government of Benin, in order to listen to them and make an assessment of their concerns, with regard to what they think can be done by the Government of the United States to improve their relations with the rest of the world. The blood drive program was designed to respond to President Obama's call for a volunteer day of service. By participating in a day of service, Post had the unique opportunity to expand the domestic commemoration of 9/11 as the National Day of Service and Remembrance into a global initiative that fosters increased understanding among people of different faiths and culture. The program has also instilled in Beninese the importance of volunteerism. The program was advertized in radios to sensitize and encouraged the population to donate blood. Blood donors included some of the faithful from the mosque of Cadjehoun, but also attracted passersby who donated blood spontaneously. This blood drive is the first of a series that will be organized with other mosques and churches. ¶9. NON-USG SOURCES OF IN-COUNTRY FUNDING/IN KIND SUPPORT: Post appreciated the participation of the Muslim IV alumni Abdoul Jalili Yessoufou, Imam of Aidjedo Mosque and Issiaka Ligali, Imam of Cadjehoun. Both of them organized the event and worked on the awareness raising campaign. ¶10. QUALITY OF USG SUPPORT: Kudos to the Embassy team who successfully pulled these programs together. KNIGHT