This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 001261 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AT STATE FOR A/S DINA POWELL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO OEXC SCUL
SUBJECT: PUBLIC DIPLOMACY CULTURAL AND 
SPORTS PROGRAMS 
 
REF STATE 222516 
 
¶1.  Response to Questions per referenced 
reftel. 
 
¶A.  The population of Djibouti is passionate 
about sports and cultural programs, and 
Embassy-organized programs grant the Mission 
access to otherwise inaccessible audiences, 
and offer a unique opportunity for mutual 
understanding. 
 
The Public Diplomacy Section (PD) 
organizes different activities during 
International Education Week (IEW).  The 
soccer tournament that closes every IEW is 
the event that draws the most attention. 
This tournament works well to access the 
youth population with which we might not 
normally interact.  Girls' soccer teams from 
middle schools and high schools participate 
fully in the tournament, supporting the 
Mission's commitment to encouraging girls' 
equal access to education.  Ramadan 
tournaments also allow access to the youth 
that attend Islamic schools and to those who 
have dropped out of school. 
 
These tournaments are not part of a 
formal PD sports program but they are one of 
the most effective and least expensive 
community outreach activities.  As soccer is 
very popular, the tournaments widely engage 
the public and promote the US image a great 
deal. 
 
Through a grant PD also sponsored a 
soccer team at the local girls' orphanage for 
the 2004-05 Female National League.  The 
girls from the orphanage are taught an 
Islamic-centered curriculum, so this is an 
opportunity to promote women's empowerment. 
 
This year, to promote the Mission's 
objective to keep girls in school, PD is also 
sponsoring the girls' team of a public middle 
school. 
 
Besides sports, another program that 
engages the local population focuses on music 
and theater productions.  The kick off 
ceremony for Black History Month is usually a 
gospel concert organized in collaboration 
with the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of 
Africa (CJTF-HOA), Djibouti.  This concert 
challenges and changes the negative 
stereotype that locals might have of the US 
military base here by showing that the US 
forces participate in the cultural life of 
the city.  The US gospel band on stage with 
local artists is the kind of image that 
challenges the belief that Americans are 
cloistered on the military camp. 
 
Another very successful and inexpensive 
cultural program PD has set up in partnership 
with CJTF-HOA is the conversation groups 
(English clubs).  About 350 students, aged 
15-25, participate in these groups.  Many 
attend Arabic schools during the day and 
study English at night.  The informal 
structure of these groups not only grants the 
Embassy access to an otherwise inaccessible 
part of the local population, it also helps 
to introduce topics covering a range of 
social and civic issues that serve as 
building blocks for open discussion among 
group members.  These groups allow 
Djiboutians and Americans to interact in 
informal settings.  Many conversation topics 
focus on cultural differences and 
similarities, enabling all parties to better 
understanding one another. 
 
¶B.  Because films and videos are associated 
with news more than entertainment in 
Djibouti, they are not as effective for 
outreach as interactive performing arts. 
 
Theater, in contrast, is one of the most 
valued performing art activities.  For the 
opening of IEW 2005, two English Clubs 
presented skits centered on the importance of 
education and the promotion of women's role 
in society.  This event was a tremendous 
success with the public as well as with the 
targeted student audience. 
Broadcasting cultural information or 
events in local languages would be effective 
as well as extend our access to rural 
populations. 
 
¶C.  The major constraint the Mission faces in 
effectively utilizing cultural and arts 
programs is the language barrier. 
Appropriate resources are not available in 
Somali or other local languages.  However, 
the Mission is engaged in promoting English 
language through students' conversation 
groups, teachers training, language labs, 
"American Corners" library, and television 
programs. 
 
Paper shows, exhibitions and the like do 
not get as much attention as sports events, 
music, and theater.  The population is 
inclined to enjoy interactive rather than 
static events. 
 
The second constraint is funding.  PD 
funds are limited and getting scarcer as the 
Section is enlarging its action field, coming 
to interact with more ambitious projects and 
trying to keep up a regular enriched 
programming calendar. 
 
An additional constraint is that the 
position of Public Diplomacy Officer (PDO) is 
currently vacant.  The next PDO is expected 
by March 2006.  Programs put in place by the 
former PDO are continuing, but new programs 
are on hold until a replacement arrives. 
 
¶D.  PD partnered with a middle school to co- 
sponsor the girls' soccer team.  The school 
is responsible for transportation and 
refreshments. 
 
PD partnered with the English Clubs 
during IEW 2005 to perform free of charge for 
PD and the audience. 
 
PD always requests partnership from the 
private sector when it comes to purchasing 
trophies and medallions for the sports 
tournaments, and sometimes the same private 
sector supplies the sports events with 
refreshments.  These small partnerships do 
not significantly impact PD funds. 
 
 
RAGSDALE