LINCOLN CENTERS REACH AFGHANISTAN'S NEXT GENERATION OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 000227 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/PPD, SCA/A STATE FOR IIP E.O. 12958 N/A TAGS: PREL KPAO KIRC SCUL AF SUBJECT: LINCOLN CENTERS REACH AFGHANISTAN'S NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: With over 55,000 visitors in 2008, Lincoln Centers (LCs) are one of the most successful public diplomacy tools in Afghanistan, providing unparalleled free and open access to the Internet, books, and educational opportunities throughout the country. The LCs also serve as cultural and education gathering sites, regularly receiving significant praise from the Afghan media. In a country with a literacy rate of only 28 percent, education is a critical means of helping Afghanistan develop its stability, its economy, and its democratic institutions. With other cities in Afghanistan clamoring for their own Lincoln Centers, it is clear that we have a successful model to promote Afghan literacy, education, development, and democratic values. We need to seize the opportunity for expansion while we have it. END SUMMARY. BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME ¶2. (U) The Lincoln Center network currently consists of five centers, located in Kabul, Jalalabd, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, and Bamyan. Twoof the centers (Kabul and Bamyan) are hosted bylocal universities, and the other three are a Ministry of Information and Culture sites. ublic Affairs opened two new centers in 2008; one is a large center with a separate classroom collocated with the Herat Public Library and the second is a small center in Bamyan University. Both centers had significant local leadership at the opening ceremonies and received wide-spread public coverage locally. Herat, in its first full month of operations, drew nearly 3,000 visitors of whom 40% were women. Three more centers will be opening before July, in Kunduz, Khost, and Gardez. ¶3. (U) The most popular activities at the centers are free English language and internet training courses that are offered at each location. The classes are all taught by volunteers, although the Embassy offers some training opportunities or small honoraria to help cover their transportation and expenses. Each Lincoln Center also offers a weekly film series of English-language films; the Herat LC is offering a prize after each film for the person who can answer the most questions on a quiz. The event at Herat is drawing 65-70 people a week, many of whom are researching the movies online before the movie showing. ¶4. (U) Other popular activities are talks and discussion groups on topics of mutual interest, many revolving around international and U.S. holidays. Cultural programs about Muslims in the United States and Afghan poetry alo draw large audience. The Lincoln Centers also heavily participate in webchats and other electronic outreach programs, since they are one of the few sites with dependable, free internet access. In addition, our PRT officers regularly use the Lincoln Centers to conduct outreach and programming activities since they have unrestricted access and enough space to host large audiences. For example, the PRT officer in Mazar-e-Sharif hosted two Iftaar dinners at the Lincoln Center during Ramadan and the PRT officer in Herat hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for contacts. ¶5. (U) The LCs are also centers for key cultural and scientific gatherings. In Bamyan province, the LC hosts weekly poetry sessions which Bamyan Radio has asked to broadcast live. They also sponsor regular scientific and cultural discussion hours hosted by a rotating list of university professors. Journalism training and a province-wide youth gathering have also been held at the center. All these activities were established within two months of the opening, highlighting the potential for LCs to instantly become key local institutions. ¶6. (U) The Lincoln Centers in Afghanistan are effective because they can reach audiences who do not speak English or have any background with the United States, and because they offer high-tech resources and information for more sophisticated audiences. IIP products ensure a steady stream of new materials for use in the Centers. In some locations, our free access to Internet, along with training, is the only place for many Afghans to learn computer skills and expand their knowledge. The LCs are also effective as they reach non-English speaking audiences, through programs held in Dari and Pashto and with, until now, a small collection of materials in both languages. We hope to expand our offerings in Dari and Pashto as money becomes available. ¶7. (U) The most frequent user group is university students, a key audience for PD outreach activities. To promote shared values, the LCs frequently invite local religious leaders to offer blessings at programs. The centers are also successful in giving more women access to these resources, since some centers in more conservative areas host women-only hours and classes. Culturally, many women cannot go to internet cafes in Afghanistan, so having free internet access at libraries and cultural sites helps give equitable access. EXPANDING THE NETWORK KABUL 00000227 002 OF 002 ¶8. (U) Post would like to significantly expand our Lincoln Center network, beyond the eight projected centers by this spring, but more funding is needed. Standing up an LC in Afghanistan costs approximately $100,000 but we have identified a number of cost-sharing opportunities. For example, in Badghis province, the Spanish PRT has offered to build a building to host both an American and Spanish cultural center. With this partnership, we can open this center in a remote provincial capital for approximately $30,000 and at the same time send an important message about allied cooperation. Some PRT officers are also exploring the ideas of using CERP funding to create buildings in key locations. ¶9. (U) Approximately 12 provinces have expressed an interest in hosting Lincoln Centers; in Dai Kundi province, which neighbors Bamyan (where a center opened earlier this year),the Governor directly requested such a center after seeing how much impact the LC in Bamyan has had on cultural life there. A Kabul newspaper earlier this year called the Lincoln Center in Mazar-e-Sharif "one of the best cultural centers for youth in Balkh province." ¶10. (U) Given the logistical challenges of moving equipment and materials, it realistically takes six to nine months to open a center. During the winter months, major roads and air transportation are less dependable, so the fall is a major window for opening new centers. TRAINING AND DEVEOPMENT ¶11. (U) As part of an ongoing series of local and regional training classes supported by IIP and its corps of Information Resources Officers (IROs),post held a Lincoln Center Coordinators conference January 21-22, which generated more ideas for enhancing the local impact of the centers. In addition to adding speaker programs and presentations, one of the centers is intending to begin writing a regular newsletter in Dari, Pashto, and English. Another intends to begin holding local photography and art contests on themes such as "Democracy." Since post will be opening three new centers in the coming months, we are also implementing a cross-training program where coordinators will be traveling to other Afghan centers to enhance relationships and idea sharing. Our LC coordinators will also participate in regional training provided by IIP. ENHANCING SECURITY, WHILE REMAINING PUBLIC ¶12. (SBU) Security is provided by the local host institution, although the Embassy is always looking to enhance security while remaining open to the public. Our center in Jalalabad has been a good example of a center operating in a high-threat environment. The Lincoln Center is within the Office of Information and Culture compound, and has a local police guard in the front. Our coordinator is originally from the area, and he reports feeling more at risk in the city than at the center. As we move to open new centers in Khost and Gardez this year, we prioritized locations with built-in security. Post's RSO office is also assisting Public Affairs in enhancing security and developing emergency plans for each center. CONCLUSION ¶13. (U) Lincoln Centers focus on promoting shared values through free and equal access to information and education. Establishing more of these centers is a key priority for Public Affairs. As open gathering places offering unique information resources, they draw hundreds of people on a daily basis. The LCs bolster the weak and limited education system in Afghanistan, and hence contribute to our overall development goals in the country. The centers significantly expand the impact of other local PD efforts, by providing sites for candid discussions about U.S. culture, policies, and values, and providing centers for dialogue between Afghans and Americans. The open arms being offered to us now across Afghanistan may not remain open for long. It is time to move forward quickly. WOOD