VZCZCXRO8591
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHTH #0093/01 0230748
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 230748Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1058
INFO RUEHIK/AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI 1766
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ATHENS 000093 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR IIP/IR HMURTEN, EUR/PPD MOKEEFE, GCOUCH, BARMSTRONG; 
EUR/SE KFITZGERALD, BHUNT, GCOWAN, SALTMAN-WINANS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: KPAO OIIP KIRC GR
SUBJECT:  FY 2008 Request for Sustaining Funds-American Corners 
Greece 
 
 
ATHENS 00000093  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1. Summary: Embassy Athens requests $40,000 in FY08 sustaining funds 
to strengthen programs at four of the six American Corners (ACs) in 
Greece: Xanthi (north-eastern Greece), Veria (north-western Greece), 
Sparta (southern Greece), and the Hellenic American Union (HAU) in 
central Athens.  Requested funds will be used for training AC 
Directors, a digital story telling workshop at Veria, speaker 
programming, and book orders.  These ACs and their programming 
specifically fit into Post's PD program through outreach to diverse, 
critical audiences, including youth and Muslims, and by ensuring 
that popular English Language teaching materials are widely 
available in the major regions of Greece.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. Background:  In late 2003, Post established the first AC in Veria 
at the city's very active central library.  In 2004, ACs were 
established in Nea Philadelphia, Xanthi and Sparta. In 2005, ACs 
opened at HAU and in Corfu.  The Department of Libraries and 
Archives at the Greek Ministry of Education (MOE) contributed to the 
selection of host institutions by providing a detailed profile of 
the candidates.  Post agreed to establish a network of six libraries 
that served diverse audiences including youth and Muslim audiences 
throughout Greece.  The northern city of Xanthi, for example, is a 
University town and has a population of 60,000 people, nearly half 
of which are Muslims. After only modest AC programming results in 
2006, Post redoubled its efforts to encourage the ACs to become more 
active and significant progress has been made in establishing 
regular reporting mechanisms, developing a listserv among the AC 
directors to share ideas, and providing systematic support from the 
Embassy.  The Greek MOE continues to be very supportive though is 
unable to contribute funding. 
 
¶3.  The American Corners in Nea Philadelphia and Corfu are currently 
facing administrative and functional problems, including shortage of 
staff, which continue to impede their programming capacity.  This 
year and per recommendation in reftel, para 4, Post will determine 
whether these two ACs are able to meet program goals.  Post is 
prepared to make the difficult choices regarding our ACs and how 
much they contribute to USG goals in Greece.  End Background. 
 
¶4.  Post's detailed responses to reftel follow for each of the four 
ACs proposed for FY08 sustaining funds.  Questions regarding FY07 
funding, amount of GOE funding, and private donations are not 
applicable in any case.  An integrated strategy for improvement is 
included in para 5. 
 
-- Hellenic American Union (HAU) American Corner 
a. Number of visitors:  3,273 
b. Number of programs held (2007): 8 
c. List of programs and total attendance: Lecture on "The Literary 
Careers of Mark Twain and Jack London, "(January 2007), attendance: 
200; Lecture on "Hemingway: His Life and Work," (January 2007), 
attendance: 22; Book exhibit on "American Philhellenism," (March 
2007), attendance:102; Educational program on "Independence Day," 
(July 2007), attendance:41; Lecture on American films on young 
immigrants, (October 2007),attendance: 100;  Lecture on "Library 
Trends in the United States," (November 2007), attendance: 25; 
"Lecture on Jack London Adventurous Life," (February 2007), 
attendance: 18; and one presentation to students of primary 
education on "How We Celebrate Christmas in the U.S.," attendance: 
¶150. 
d. Most popular programs (by category):  American literature, 
merican history and culture. 
e. Most popular materials (by category): IRC newsletters, electronic 
journals and documents on US history, literature, and the 
environment. 
f. Audience reached:  High school and University students. 
Approximately 350 books have been checked out. 
g. Number of Embassy oversight visits:  Three including the CAO, IRO 
and Athens IRC staff. 
h. Extent of media coverage of AC events: Strong coverage of all 
programs at HAU website and Mosaiko.gr, the U.S. Embassy's cultural 
website for youth audiences.  Mosaiko covered extensively programs 
of all 6 American Corners in Greece. 
i. Training provided (2007): N/A 
 
-- Sparta American Corner 
a. Number of visitors:  500 
b. Number of programs held:  7 
c. List of programs held: Ambassador Ries program with young 
students (March 2006), attendance 50; 2007 Earth Day series of 
events (paper show, book exhibit- March/April), attendance: 200; 
Paper show to commemorate the Marshall Plan (June 2006), attendance 
50; Break-dance/Hip-hop group "HaviKoro" performance and workshops 
(October 2007), attendance 1150; Fulbright advisor promotes studies 
in the U.S. (November 2007), attendance: 60; two educational 
programs with elementary and secondary education teachers of English 
language to get acquainted with IRC produced material of English 
language teaching (December 2007), attendance:120; and one 
presentation to students of primary education on "How We Celebrate 
 
ATHENS 00000093  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
Christmas in the U.S.," attendance: 50. 
d. Most popular programs (By category):  Havi Koro performance, 
Earth Day program, and educational programs on English language 
teaching. 
e. Most popular materials (By category):  U.S. Education materials 
(TOEFL, GRE, Guide to U.S. Universities, etc.); U.S. Literature; 
English Language teaching.  Approximately 360 books have been 
checked out. 
f. Audience reached: University students, professors, elementary and 
high school students. 
g. Number of Embassy oversight visits:  5 visits by PAO, CAO, AIO, 
and ELOs (twice in 2007). 
h. Extent of media coverage of AC: Local media (2 newspapers and one 
television station covered Havi Koro performance and visit of 
Ambassador. Also, wide coverage by Mosaiko.gr. 
i. Training provided (2007):  N/A 
 
-- Xanthi American Corner: 
a. Number of visitors: 1,100 
b. Number of programs held: 3 
c. List of programs held: Oscar Night in Xanthi, film showing and 
discussion (February 2007), attendance: 40; Showing of "Animated 
Award-Winning Children's Books" video package (March 2007), 
attendance: 60; 2007 Earth Day series of events (paper show, book 
exhibit- March/April), attendance: 150; Paper show to commemorate 
the Marshall Plan (June 2006), attendance 60 
d. Most popular programs:  Oscar Night, and the Animated 
Award-Winning Children's Books video showing. 
e. Most popular materials: Printed copies of electronic journals on 
American teenagers and the English language. About 300 books have 
been checked out. 
f. Audience reached:  General public, high school and university 
students. 
g. Number of Embassy oversight visits: Two including staff from U.S. 
Consulate in Thessaloniki. 
h. Extent of media coverage: The Oscar Night event received coverage 
in local media, print and electronic. Also, coverage by Mosaiko.gr. 
 
i. Training provided (2007):  N/A 
 
-- Veria American Corner: 
a. Number of visitors: 3,500 
b. Number of programs held: 4 
c. List of programs held: Lecture of former ALA Director Office of 
Diversity on "Current Library Science Trends in the U.S." (May 
2007), attendance: 60; Performance of local Jazz group (June 2007), 
attendance: 50; Showings of "Animated Award-Winning Children's 
Books" video package (April 2007), attendance: 150; 2007 Earth Day 
series of events (paper show, book exhibit- March/April), 
attendance: 250 
d. Most popular programs (by category): Earth Day events 
e. Most popular materials (by category):  Reference collection, IRC 
thematic newsletters.  About 400 books have been checked out. 
f. Audience reached:  General public, teachers and elementary and 
high school students. 
g. Number of Embassy oversight visits:  Three including staff from 
U.S. Consulate in Thessaloniki. 
h. Extent of media coverage: Mosaiko.gr highlighted all 4 programs. 
i. Training provided (2007): N/A 
 
¶5. Plan for the future, Strategy for improvement. 
 
-- The HAU AC was particularly notable last year for the quality, 
quantity and variety of programs undertaken, ranging from events 
profiling American authors, commemorating American friends of 
Greece, and trivia contests focusing on American themes.  This AC 
has connected with energized, youth audiences.  The Sparta AC also 
had a spectacular success with the Havi Koro breakdance event, 
attracting over 1150 young people for the performance and a workshop 
the next day.  Post intends to support similar efforts and to use 
the experiences at these ACs to model programs at other ACs. 
 
-- A key component for 2008 programming will be the reinforcement of 
English Language (EL) Teaching activities. Facilitated by advisors 
from the Greek Ministry of Education and Fulbright, IRC specialists 
will continue to organize meetings with English language teachers of 
primary and secondary education to promote the wealth of EL 
materials available that offer "American content."  Post also plans 
to integrate AC programs into its Embassy Speakers Bureau to 
encourage Mission personnel to speak while visiting cities hosting 
American Corners. 
 
-- Of special note is a three-day workshop planned for September 
2008 by the American Corner in Veria on advanced storytelling 
techniques. The AC director has contacted the Center for Digital 
Storytelling in California to arrange a workshop focusing on the use 
of digital media to craft, record, and share, the stories of 
individuals and the community.  The workshop will be part of the 
 
ATHENS 00000093  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
European Commission funded project "UNTOLD: Learning with Digital 
Stories."  The audience will consist mainly of library staff and 
educators. 
 
-- Post also hopes to sponsor a countrywide training program for the 
six AC directors. Our goal is to share best practices and discuss 
efforts to further support and energize AC programming.  This 
program will highlight successes, other new ideas, and encourage the 
AC directors to further develop a network among themselves. 
 
¶6. Budget and request for FY08 Sustaining Funds. 
 
¶A. Periodicals for 4 Corners: $800 each, total: $3,200 
¶B. Books for 4 Corners: $5000 each, total: $20,000 
¶C. Digital Story Telling Workshop in Veria: $5,800 
¶D. Training/travel of Corner Directors: $2,000 
¶E. Speaker programming: $8,000 
¶F. Operating Expenses (photocopying, mailing, etc.): $1,000 
¶G. Combined Request for 4 Corners: $40,000 
 
-- In 2007, Post allocated $10,642.43 to support the AC program in 
Greece.  We anticipate a similar budget for 2008, split between 
materials (books, CDs, paper shows) and special events. 
 
¶7. Compliance issues 
 
--  All four American Corners were established with MOUs signed by 
the Embassy and the host institution, and all are posted on the AC 
Central database. 
 
--  The records are complete and up-to-date. 
 
--  Each AC is in compliance with core characteristics.  Details 
available on request. 
 
--  Post's IRO has reviewed this plan and concurs. 
 
LEVIN