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

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Summary
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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.

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Why a "Road Show"?
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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
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.

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First Road Show teams Volunteers with community grant recipients
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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.

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Second Road Show involves PEPFAR and the Lesotho Defense Forces
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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.

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What is to come for these Embassy efforts?
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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