BENIN: BLOOD DRIVE MUSLIM COMMUNITY PROJECT

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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

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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

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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