EMBASSY MASERU TAKES ITS SHOW ON THE ROAD

UNCLAS MASERU 000058 DEPT FOR AF/S AND AF/PD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO PGOV KHIV EAID LT SUBJECT: EMBASSY MASERU TAKES ITS SHOW ON THE ROAD -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. The US Embassy in Maseru has embarked on an ambitious plan to have monthly "Road Shows," allowing us to get out into some of Lesotho's ten districts to spread U.S. government messages. The plan is to take advantage of synergies between the programs of our Mission to maximize benefits for minimum costs, and get our various messages out to all areas of the country. -------------- Why a "Road Show"? -------------- ¶2. In a country like Lesotho, where travel is not always easy and the most common form of transportation is a donkey, it can become quite easy to stay near the capital and the office. At a time when the State Department's efforts in Public Diplomacy are still focused on reaching "younger, broader, and deeper" audiences, it became evident that we must make a concerted effort to reach outside the capital on a regular basis. In addition, Embassy Maseru is focused around one primary issue - the threat of HIV/AIDS, which has infected approximately 23% of Lesotho's population. The PEPFAR program in Lesotho will spend $13.2 million in 2009 on providing HIV/AIDS treatment and care, working to prevent the disease, and providing technical assistance to support the Government of Lesotho's response. PEPFAR works closely with the Millennium Challenge Account, which is providing $122 million over five years to improve health infrastructure. These two programs, working together to strengthen health care systems and technical skills, provide an optimistic outlook that Lesotho can work toward decreasing the incidence of HIV infection and caring for a greater percentage of its population who are infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS. ¶3. All sections of the Embassy and all U.S. agencies working in Lesotho are aware of the challenges that HIV/AIDS poses to any other kind of work that we are doing. Peace Corps Volunteers are uniquely placed to see the devastation caused by the disease during their work in some of the most remote areas of the Kingdom. Each volunteer has an HIV/AIDS component in their work; in addition, PEPFAR provided $285,000 in FY 2009 funding for VAST grants, which are made to volunteers to fund a specific HIV/AIDS-related project. The Ambassador's Special Projects office has $100,000 in FY 2009 PEPFAR funds to administer small grants to local community groups combating the disease and �00A;supporting orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). The Embassy's Public Diplomacy/Economic/Political section is working with MCC, PEPFAR, Peace Corps, and their local partners to make sure that the word gets out and to help with programming ideas. Having a monthly event helps keep us focused on this goal. -------------- -------------- First Road Show teams Volunteers with community grant recipients -------------- -------------- ¶4. The first Road Show was held on January 14, 2009, in a village about twenty minutes from the capital city. It took place at the Lefikeng Training Centre, a recipient of a $6,000 grant from the Ambassador's Special Projects PEPFAR funds. The grant was used to purchase over 700 hens, and the proceeds from selling the eggs are helping to fund education, food and shelter for the 105 OVC who are supported and cared for by the center. ¶5. The training centre is run by a local resident, Rantaoleng "Edgar" Moiloa. Moiloa is a brick-layer who began working with OVC in 1989 when he paid for one orphan to attend high school. After four years, he had about seven pupils in his care. Then, in 1996, he had thirty-six orphans and was unable to help them all on his own because he lacked the finances. To help support his cause, he teamed up with a tailor who helped initiate a sewing school. Later, he received a grant from Irish Aid, and managed to persuade other members of the community to volunteer to teach the orphans. ¶6. Four Peace Corps volunteers traveled to Lefikeng to conduct HIV/AIDS training. More than fifty orphans participated in the training, and many other, younger children arrived during the morning to receive the noon meal provided by "Ntate Edgar." The Peace Corps volunteers said that it was one of the best activities they have participated in since arriving in the country. At the end of the training, OVCs from the community presented a play of their own creation about HIV/AIDS. Lesotho television and local print and radio outlets gave the event extensive coverage. Embassy Maseru is proud to be able to reach into communities and help hard-working men and women like "Ntate Edgar" who are giving almost everything they have to their fellow citizens, particularly those rendered most vulnerable by this global pandemic. -------------- -------------- Second Road Show involves PEPFAR and the Lesotho Defense Forces -------------- -------------- ¶7. On Friday, February 13, 2009, post participated in an AIDS Day celebration at Makoanyane Barracks, one of the main headquarters of the Lesotho Defense Forces (LDF). This second road show was spearheaded by the PEPFAR DOD program coordinator, Malerato Brown. For some, the day began with a three hour march from the Ratjomose Barracks to the Makoanyane Barracks on the other side of town. DCM Elizabeth Power, who spoke at the event, pledged to join in the march at next year's celebration. ¶8. During the event, voluntary counseling and testing was conducted by Population Services International, a local PEPFAR partner. According to the LDF, approximately 100 people were tested during the celebration. Members of the National Security Service, the Lesotho Mounted Police Service, the Lesotho Correctional Service, and the LDF participated in a two-day soccer tournament. The winner of the tournament earned a trophy and all teams were presented with soccer balls. ¶9. The DCM spoke to the assembled soldiers and dignitaries about the commitment of the United States to the Kingdom of Lesotho. Several times during her speech, at the mention of USG efforts, the audience interrupted with applause. The Honorable Minister to the Prime Minister spoke after the DCM and expressed the Kingdom's gratitude for all that we do. A week later, in a meeting with visiting members of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, he reiterated how much our support means to the Kingdom. -------------- What is to come for these Embassy efforts? -------------- ¶10. As a PD-light post, Embassy Maseru is attempting to stretch our Public Diplomacy efforts to do more with less. During the coming months, we will take advantage of visiting strategic speakers, future work with the Defense Attachi's office in Pretoria, and cooperation from our partners at PEPFAR, MCC, and Peace Corps to get the Embassy's message out to the people of the Kingdom. We are proud of our team, and will continue to work together to come up with worthwhile programs that show the United States as a partner of hope and good will, not only in the area of prevention, care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, but also in the realm of economic development and regional security. NOLAN