BENIN ENGLISH OUTREACH: MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SPEECH

UNCLAS COTONOU 000065

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC SCUL KPAO BN
SUBJECT: BENIN ENGLISH OUTREACH: MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SPEECH
CONTEST


1. SUMMARY: On January 27, PAS Cotonou hosted a well attended Martin
Luther King, Jr. speech contest to promote the use of English and to
usher in Black History Month. END SUMMARY.


2. DATE OF ACTIVITY: January 27; second quarter, FY 10.


3. PROGRAM JUSTIFICATION/OBJECTIVES: Post held this event to
celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and to promote the English
language as a tool to further mutual understanding between the
people of the United States and the people of Benin.


4. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY: The Martin Luther King, Jr. contest, has
been held annually since 2008. After a pre-selection of the 7 best
imitators of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech, the
finalists presented their speeches at the American Cultural Center,
before a 4-member jury and a crowd of over 100 people on January 27.
The jury was composed of two Beninese and two U.S. Embassy
representatives, General Services Officer Stephanie Arnold and Peace
Corps Administrator Ifeoma Ezeh.


5. In her opening remarks, PAO Rhonda Watson welcomed the guests and
stated that the U.S. Embassy in Benin, through its sponsorship of
this program, wanted to show its support and encouragement for the
efforts made by the young students to learn English and to promote
excellence through proficiency in this language, which dominates in
the world of business.


6. Ambassador Knight emphasized the promotion of the English
language as a key aspect of the U.S. Embassy's mission and the major
role played by the Public Affairs Section in achieving this
objective. He also stated that in commemorating Martin Luther King
Day in Benin, the U.S. Embassy seeks to encourage the efforts of
non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations that
are working to make this country a better place to live.


7. Dr. Rene Ahouansou, lecturer of American Studies at the
University of Abomey-Calavi, spoke about the Civil Rights movement
in the United States and the circumstances that led the Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. to deliver his 'I have a dream' speech.


8. MPP UMBRELLA THEMES AND AUDIENCE REACHED:

-- Promoting Mutual Understanding
-- Maintaining Beninese Support for the United States

The event attracted approximately 100 guests, including students,
teachers, English club members, American Diplomats, Beninese civil
servants, staff members and members of the local media community. A
privately owned Cotonou-based TV station, Golfe TV, filmed the
entirety of the program for rebroadcast to an audience estimated at
a million viewers. A reporter from the government-owned TV station
requested a copy of the videotape of the program for use during her
weekly English program.


9. RESULT/IMPACT: Excellent. This program was an opportunity to
bring together the members of the various English clubs and to
highlight their interest in the learning of the English language.
The program was augmented by the showing of the ARS-provided film,
'The March', a documentary about the hundreds of thousands of civil
rights marchers who gathered on the Mall near the Lincoln Memorial
on August 31, 1963, and the prize giving ceremony. PAS Cotonou
donated books as prizes for the contestants. This program was a
highly successful event, appreciated by all in attendance.


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


11. QUALITY OF USG SUPPORT: Excellent. Kudos to the PAS team for
putting together this program.

KNIGHT