VZCZCXRO8616
RR RUEHROV
DE RUEHAM #3729/01 2481231
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051231Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0242
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 AMMAN 003729 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR R/PPR, ECA (Bishop), NEA/PPD, NEA/ELA 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO OEXC SCUL JO
SUBJECT:  American Basketball Clinics and English Language Programs 
Draw Jordanian Youth to "Camp Friendship" 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  Embassy Amman recently concluded its first Youth 
Enrichment Program.  Under the auspices of this R initiative, PA 
Amman hosted two basketball and English-language camps in August for 
more than 200 underprivileged Jordanian boys and girls from several 
different regions of the country.  The training sessions were 
designed to provide Jordanian youth with the opportunity to improve 
their skills, as well as to learn about American culture and values. 
 Participants in the camps raved about their experiences and all 
major Jordanian media outlets gave extensive coverage to the 
initiative.  Camp Friendship supported Embassy Amman's goals of 
reaching diverse, young audiences throughout Jordan, and promoted 
MSP goals of encouraging mutual understanding and combating 
extremism.  END SUMMARY. 
 
200 UNDERPRIVLEDGED YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN CAMP FRIENDSHIP 
 
¶2.  PA Amman partnered with the Jordan Basketball Federation (JBF) 
to sponsor two five-day camps for Jordanian boys and girls age 12-14 
in August with the aim of encouraging among local youth a strong 
sense of self-worth, respect, and tolerance for each other. 
Basketball is one of Jordan's most popular sports (number two after 
soccer), and is played widely throughout the country by both boys 
and girls. 
 
¶3.  Every morning from August 6-10, 50 girls attended camp for four 
hours, followed by 50 boys for the next four hours.  Two Peace Corps 
Volunteers taught conversational English language lessons for 30 
minutes each day.  This schedule was repeated again for week two of 
the camp from August 13-17.  The program reached a total of 200 
Jordanian youth.  The JBF advertised the camps and recruited 
participants from underprivileged areas who play on JBF youth teams 
around the kingdom.  Youth from as far away as Aqaba in the south or 
Jordan and Irbid in the north attended the camps.  The Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) designated four American 
coaches from the NBA's youth outreach "Jr. NBA" program to lead the 
two five-day camps.  Coaches Donnie Arey and Diane Foli supervised 
the first week of camp, and Kent Davison and Phyllis Dallas 
supervised the second week of camp.  The JBF also selected six 
Jordanian coaches to participate in each five-day camp.  These 
coaches had the opportunity to learn coaching skills alongside their 
American counterparts. 
 
CAMP FRIENDSHIP PROMOTES DIVERSITY, TOLERANCE, AND UNDERSTANDING 
 
¶4.  PA Amman's goals for Camp Friendship were to reach youth, the 
majority from underprivileged backgrounds, to engage in activities 
that would foster tolerance, respect for diversity, and a better 
understanding of the United States.  Through direct engagement and 
extensive media coverage, we achieved these goals. 
 
¶5.  The four American coaches offered outstanding instruction and 
proved to be incredibly popular among camp participants.  Their 
high-energy camps were well planned and executed.  The American 
coaches used humor, basketball skills, and American coaching 
techniques to engage every participant, and make him/her feel 
included and important to the success of their team and of the 
overall camp.  During breaks, the coaches were approachable and 
spent time relaxing with the participants, talking about their 
favorite NBA players, giving basketball tips, and getting to know 
about the campers' families.  The four Peace Corps Volunteers also 
contributed greatly to the overall success of Camp Friendship. 
Experts in working with Jordanian youth, they provided sage guidance 
to program organizers on how to give instruction and establish 
guidelines.  They made conversational English classes fun and 
accessible to students at all levels of English ability. 
 
PRESS COVERAGE 
 
¶6.  Camp Friendship received excellent coverage in the local print 
media. 
 
-- The JBF press release announcing the start of the basketball camp 
program appeared on the sports pages of all Arabic dailies August 7. 
 The largest daily, Al Rai, ran a report with a photo of coaches 
Donnie Arey and Diane Foli while Ad-Dustour carried a photo from the 
training session.  Headlines read: 
 
Al-Rai:  "In Partnership With The American Embassy, The JBF 
Organizes Training Camps For Young Players" 
 
Ad-Dustour:  "Under The Supervision Of The JBF And In Cooperation 
With The American Embassy, Launch Of First Summer Camps With The 
Participation Of More Than 100 Male And Female Players" 
 
Al-Ghad:  "Two Training Camps For Promising Basketball Players In 
Amman" 
 
Al-Arab Al-Yawm:  "JBF Organizes Two Basketball Training Camps For 
Youth" 
 
 
AMMAN 00003729  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
-- Coverage of an August 8 press conference hosted by Ambassador 
Hale and the Secretary General of the Jordan Basketball Federation 
appeared, with photos, on the sports pages of all papers published 
August 9.  Articles consisted mainly of Ambassador Hale's remarks, 
as well as those of JBF's Secretary General and the two American 
coaches.  Headlines read: 
 
Al-Rai:  "Announcing The Jordanian-American Friendship Camp To Train 
Promising Basketball Youth; Hale Stresses The Importance Of Sports 
In Bringing People Together" 
 
Ad-Dustour:  "The American Ambassador: We Are Happy With The Idea 
And Basketball Is A Common Language Between The Two Countries; Abu 
Atta Announces The Launch Of The Jordanian-American Friendship 
Camp" 
 
Al-Ghad:  "The American Embassy Funds The Friendship Camp For 
Basketball Youth" 
 
Al-Arab Al-Yawm:  "Opening Of The Jordanian-American Friendship 
Basketball Program; David Hale: Our Program Is Part Of The Sports 
Initiative For Peace" 
 
-- On August 18, Al-Ghad published an interview with coaches Kent 
Davison and Phyllis Dallas.  Featuring two photos, the article 
focused on the coaches' remarks about their backgrounds and about 
their experiences with the young Jordanian players.  The article 
also quoted R/PPR adviser Seema Matin, one of three evaluators 
visiting Amman the day of the interview.  Ms. Matin's comments 
centered on the scope and purpose of the Youth Enrichment Program 
overall.  The headline read:  "On The Sidelines Of Camp Friendship 
2007, American Coaches: Basketball Is A Goodwill Ambassador To 
Jordan" 
 
 
-- PA issued a press release on August 21 summarizing the activities 
of the basketball camp.  Extensive excerpts from the press release 
were featured in the sports pages of all papers published August 
22-23.  All reports appeared with photos from the basketball camp. 
Headlines read: 
 
Al-Rai:  "Conclusion Of Jordanian-American 'Camp Friendship' To 
Train Promising Basketball Players" 
 
Ad-Dustour:  "Conclusion Of Jordanian-American Camp Friendship For 
Basketball Training; Conducted With Support From The American 
Embassy In Amman And Participation Of 200 Youth" 
 
Al-Ghad:  "Friendship Camp for Basketball Training Supported by the 
American Embassy Concludes" 
 
Al-Arab Al-Yawm:  "Conclusion Of Jordanian-American 'Camp 
Friendship' For Basketball 
 
Jordan Times:  "Two-Week Training Camp Reaches More Than 200 
Jordanian Boys And Girls" 
 
IMPACT 
 
¶7.  Camp Friendship supported MSP goals of expanding mutual 
understanding and combating extremism through people-to-people 
contact and outreach.  It demonstrated Embassy Amman's ongoing 
commitment to reaching younger and more diverse audiences throughout 
the country and engaging them in activities that promote self-worth, 
tolerance, and understanding.  The American coaches and Peace Corps 
Volunteers who led Camp Friendship did an excellent job 
demonstrating the best of American values to children who would not 
otherwise have the opportunity to participate in a program providing 
such depth and breadth.  Because of their five-day, ongoing exposure 
to the coaches and teachers, camp participants developed strong 
attachments.  Several students offered to discuss their experiences 
in Camp Friendship; below are a few of their reactions: 
 
"This camp, it's so beautiful and fun." - Otoum 
 
"It was very great and I'm happy to experience this.  And I want to 
thank the coaches."-Moqattash 
 
"Yes, it's very amazing, I'm very excited because I'm going to the 
camping.  I love English and USA and learn English and make new 
friend."  -- Hamedan 
 
"The camp was very special experience.  I learn a lot of things, 
that I never learn.  And I make new friends and new coach.  Finally, 
nice to meet American people."  -- Anonymous 
 
 
¶8.  Cost-share:  Camp Friendship's total cost was $44,550.  PA Amman 
received funding from R totaling $30,582 and $10,000 through an 
interagency agreement (PASA) with USAID Jordan to cover round trip 
 
AMMAN 00003729  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
air transportation, lodging, per diem, honorarium and travel 
allowance for four American coaches.  These funds also covered 
stipends for Jordanian coaches ($30 per day), lunch and water for 
camp participants, coaches, and bus drivers, transportation via 
rented minibuses for camp participants and Jordanian coaches, and 
two t-shirts per camp participant.  PA Amman contributed $940 of its 
own program funds to cover lodging and per diem for Peace Corps 
Volunteers.  The Jordan Basketball Federation contributed $3,028, 
which was used to purchase polo shirts for coaches, print 
certificates, and to produce notepads and pens with the Camp 
Friendship logo to give away to camp participants. 
 
¶9.  PA Amman strongly endorses the Youth Enrichment Program and 
would welcome the opportunity to host similar programs in the 
future.  The four American coaches selected for this program were a 
perfect fit.  Although it was their first time to visit the Middle 
East, they felt at ease immediately and made the Jordanian camp 
participants feel as though they were a part of something special. 
PA Amman would like to thank R, ECA, Peace Corps, and USAID for 
their support of this program.  Photos of Camp Friendship may be 
found at http://amman.usembassy.gov. 
 
HALE