BENIN MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY OBSERVANCE: 'BOYCOTT' FILM

UNCLAS COTONOU 000051

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/PD, AF/W, PD/IIP AND ECA/A/L/W
PARIS FOR ARS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC SCUL KPAO BN
SUBJECT: BENIN MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY OBSERVANCE: 'BOYCOTT' FILM
SCREENINGS


1. SUMMARY: From January 13 to January 20, 2010, PAS Cotonou
organized screenings of 'Boycott' in observance of Martin Luther
King Day. 'Boycott' dramatizes events triggered in Montgomery,
Alabama on December 1, 1955, when Rosa Parks was arrested after
refusing to surrender her seat in the 'white' section of a public
bus. 'Boycott' was shown to students at the American Cultural
Center and high schools and universities in and beyond Cotonou. END
SUMMARY.


2. DATE OF ACTIVITY: January 13-20; Second quarter, FY10.


3. PROGRAM JUSTIFICATION/OBJECTIVES: Observation of Martin Luther
King Day and to further mutual understanding between the people of
the United States and the people of Benin.


4. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY: 'Boycott' provides insight into the
civil-rights movement in the United States. The film was screened
January 13 at the American Cultural Center to students from the
English International School, the Nigerian International School, and
New Covenant American School International -- all private schools in
Cotonou with pre-school, primary and secondary classes. A PAS team
also screened 'Boycott' at Martin Luther King School, a private
school in Cotonou; Houdegbe North American University, a private
university in Cotonou; and CEG Come, a public high school 60 km from
Cotonou. Schools prepared students for this film through
roundtables on United States history, segregation, and AmericaQs
civil-rights movement. Most students were required to prepare a
written report on the film.


5. MPP UMBRELLA THEMES AND AUDIENCE REACHED:

-- Promoting Education
-- Promoting Mutual Understanding
-Q Investing in People
-- Maintaining Support for the United States
-- Securing a Platform for USG Programs in Benin

The film attracted over 400 viewers, including students, teachers,
English club members, Peace Corps Volunteers, and U.S. Mission staff
members.


6. RESULT/IMPACT: Excellent Students enjoyed an excellent
depiction of the 381-day boycott of the Montgomery bus system and
how the boycott spurred the U.S. civil-rights movement.


7. NON-USG SOURCES OF IN-COUNTRY FUNDING/IN KIND SUPPORT: None.


11. QUALITY OF USG SUPPORT: Excellent. Kudos to Cotonou's PAS team
for this program.

KNIGHT