ECA/PE/V'S EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH INITIATIVE (EOI)

UNCLAS STATE 022288 FOR PAO/CAO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO OEXC SCUL XG SUBJECT: ECA/PE/V'S EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH INITIATIVE (EOI) This is an Action Request (See Paras 3, 4, 5, and 6) 1) Summary. ECA/PE/V launched a key program strategy, the Educational Outreach Initiative (EOI),in February at the NCIV annual meeting in Washington, D.C. The EOI, effective March 2009, will formally establish the goal of providing K-12 school visits for International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) participants, similar to the traditional home hospitality opportunities. The EOI will affect programs scheduled to open in March 2009 and beyond. ECA/PE/V's goal is to provide one opportunity to visit a K-12 classroom visit per program based upon the Post and ECA Program Officer recommendations for the participants. The EOI would: --provide IVLP participants an opportunity to make a presentation and interact with K-12 students, which will raise students' awareness of the participant's country and profession, as well as the IV's understanding of the importance of international education in U.S. schools; --allow IVLP participants to observe the important role U.S. educational institutions play in promoting democratic principles; --raise awareness of global issues and understanding of the benefits and value of international exchanges, both professional and educational, among students, teachers, parents, school administrators, and other community leaders; and --demonstrate to American communities and leaders the crucial role of the IVLP as an effective Public Diplomacy tool. 2) Overview. Following the model of 2008,s strategy to incorporate election components into each program during the Presidential election year, the EOI will endeavor to incorporate a K-12 school visit into IVLP projects, beginning with those opening in March, 2009. ECA/PE/V is mindful that a school visit may not be appropriate in all instances, such as when a program is short or highly technical, or when visitors are not willing to participate. While we encourage broad participation in this initiative, the posts and ECA program officers would ultimately determine the appropriateness of the EOI for each project and visitor. 3) PAS/EMBASSY/CONSULATE INVOLVEMENT Each post should discuss this new initiative with the visitor(s) and identify preferences, if any, regarding: -- the age ranges of students with whom they would like to meet; -- type of school, i.e., traditional primary or secondary, 
vocational, non-traditional, parochial, private, charter, creative or performing arts, language immersion, etc. Post should submit IV preferences to the responsible ECA program officer either by e-mail or in the Post EVDB Web nomination under Post Recommendations. (This field can be found in Post EVDB Web by navigating to the project nominee tab, then selecting the nominee and clicking the Edit Nominee button.) To assist the posts and the visitor(s) in determining how to maximize the effectiveness of this program opportunity, ECA/PE/V has outlined in para 4 some guidance and suggestions for the visitor(s) classroom/school visit and presentation. ECA program officers will provide further guidance to assist the visitor(s) in preparing for this aspect of their program via email. 4) IVLP PARTICIPANTS' PRESENTATION(S) Teacher(s) will introduce the visitor(s) to the students and assist and provide support to the visitor(s) during their presentations. Advanced notifications of the visitor(s)' English language capability and/or interpreting requirements will be conveyed to the teacher(s) so they can incorporate additional time for the visitor(s)' presentation, as needed. To prepare visitors for their presentation, ECA/PE/V offers a few suggestions below: A) Visitors may wish to bring the following items to showcase during their presentations: -- Traditional toy or game; -- National dress or traditional clothing (hat, shirt, scarf or shoe); -- Pictures or post cards (pictures can be of family or friends or of any of the topics the visitors would like to talk about); -- Currency; -- Flag; -- Newspaper or magazine (just a page will do); or -- Music (either CDs, tapes, or a small instrument). B) Visitor may also wish to: -- teach a greeting in their language to the students; -- ask the students to locate the visitor(s)'country on a globe or a map; -- highlight products from their country; -- highlight foods from their country, i.e., staples, local dishes, or popular beverages; -- highlight school life and activities in their home country, i.e., typical school year, curricula, subjects or the grading systems; -- highlight holidays/festivals important to their culture, i.e., major celebrations or religious holidays and their significance; -- highlight music or other cultural activities by playing or singing some traditional songs, or performing a brief traditional dance. 5) ECA/PE/V encourages the posts to solicit impressions and comments about the EOI from the returned visitors during their debriefing sessions. 6) We look forward to your feedback and cooperation as we begin implementing this exciting opportunity for our IVLP participants. Thanks and regards. (ECA/PE/V/R/E) CLINTON