Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KABUL227
2009-02-01 05:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:  

LINCOLN CENTERS REACH AFGHANISTAN'S NEXT GENERATION OF

Tags:  PREL KPAO KIRC SCUL AF 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0124
PP RUEHPW
DE RUEHBUL #0227/01 0320526
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 010526Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7087
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE
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

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