VZCZCXRO8872
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHTH #0058/01 0161250
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 161250Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3031
INFO RUEHIK/AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI 2003
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ATHENS 000058 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR IIP/IR BCONATY, EUR/PPD MCROUCH, 
EUR/CARC BHUNT, EUR/PPD, SALTMAN-WINANS, EUR/PPD LHELLING 
ROME FOR IRO LHOHMANN 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: KPAO OIIP KIRC GR
SUBJECT:  FY 2009 Request for Sustaining Funds-American Corners 
Greece 
 
ATHENS 00000058  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1.  Introduction and Summary: Embassy Athens requests $58,340 in 
FY09 funds to strengthen programs at the six American Corners (ACs) 
in Greece: Xanthi (northeastern Greece), Veria (northwestern 
Greece), Sparta (southern Greece), Corfu (western Greece), the 
Hellenic American Union (HAU) in central Athens, and the American 
Corner in the wider Athens municipality of Nea Philadelphia. 
Requested funds will be used for participation of AC Directors in a 
regional training workshop organized by IRO Laura Kaspari-Hohmann; a 
series of storytelling presentations and workshops at Veria, Xanthi, 
Nea Philadelphia, and Sparti; speaker programming; book orders; and 
equipment upgrades.  All our 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 Introduction and Summary. 
 
2008 Achievements:  Integration and Sustainability 
 
¶2.  Post continues to coordinate ACs with Mission priorities and 
other PAS programs -- specifically, English language projects, 
outreach to youth and USG exchange alumni, and educational advising. 
 Despite budget constraints, Post has managed to bring native 
English-speaking visitors to most Corners. Beginning in the fall of 
2008, Post initiated an Embassy speakers' program whereby we bring 
Embassy representatives to ACs to conduct programming and outreach 
to Greek youth. Post is also planning to use technology to 
supplement and improve AC programming and administration.   For 
example, Post is planning to launch a Facebook page administered by 
the IRC to connect all American Corners and t reach out to youth 
through this increasingly popular application. Also, the IRC intends 
to organize web chats bringing together American elementary schools 
and junior high schools with groups of young Greeks using the 
facilities of the American Corners.  The successful ECO Fan Club of 
the Hellenic American Union open to young people aged 7 to 15, 
combining fun with learning activities and environmental action, 
will be the first group to communicate with their American peers 
through the AC in the HAU. 
 
¶3.  On September 29, Post organized a workshop for AC directors; one 
of the outcomes of that workshop is that ACs have taken a renewed 
interest in programming and have also made progress in establishing 
regular reporting mechanisms, and coordinating with the Embassy on 
programs. It is worth mentioning that a successful English language 
program initiated by the IRC is reaching out to Greek youth using as 
venues not only high schools, but also the network of the six 
American Corners. The Greek Ministry of Education continues to be 
very supportive of this program, although it is unable to contribute 
financially. 
 
¶4.  The American Corners in Nea Philadelphia and Corfu still face 
some administrative problems.  The AC in Corfu suffered the sudden 
death of the library director (who also served as AC coordinator in 
2008). However, both Corners have demonstrated renewed commitment to 
meeting program goals. We are also making considerable headway with 
the new director of the Cultural Center in New Philadelphia (who 
also supervises the municipal library and the AC), who has promised 
to be more cooperative than his predecessor. 
 
2008 Statistics and Data 
 
¶5.  In 2008, the American Corners in Greece recorded the highest 
numbers of visitors and programs since the beginning of their 
operation: 
 
-- 18,182 visitors, 17,100 of whom were youth 
-- 37 programs total, 5 of which were offsite 
More specifically, the following programs are worth mentioning: 
 
-- Corfu American Corner: Innovative multimedia approach including 
book reading, theatrical play and film showing to celebrate the 
birthday of Mark Twain (January 2008), attendance: 85. 
 
-- Hellenic American Union:  Interactive lecture combined with 
trivia contest and film showing to commemorate Black History month 
(February 2008), attendance: (80). Movie Night with the Muppet 
Christmas Carol film (December 2008), attendance: 40. 
 
-- Sparti American Corner:  Presentation of Black American Music 
covering its various music styles and how it contributed to world 
music (March 2008), attendance: 90. 
 
-- Nea Philadelphia American Corner: Greek American Fulbrighter 
connects with students and teachers in an interactive presentation 
on marine biology (May 2008), attendance: 50. 
 
-- Veria American Corner: Trivia contest for young library users 
becomes one of the most popular summer programs attracting more than 
 
ATHENS 00000058  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
hundred school children (June 2008), attendance: 40. 
 
-- Xanthi American Corner:  Movie Night to commemorate Black History 
Month with screening of videotape "The March to 
Washington."(February 2008), attendance: 80.  Book exhibit and paper 
show display on the environment at city of Xanthi major annual event 
attracting many hundreds young visitors at the International 
Children's Day. 
 
Audience reached: As a general remark, this year all six American 
corners witnessed a big increase of younger audience ages 12 - 16 
both in checking out books and using the reference services but also 
in program attendance.  The average number of young people attending 
an AC program was 50 - 60 attendees. 
 
Most popular materials:  The 2008 Earth Day poster, the U.S. 
Elections/Civics Set of 48 titles, the 2008 Black History Month 
newsletter prepared by the Athens IRC. Also two IIP electronic 
journals (Dynamic English and World Youth: Building a Future) 
recorded wide distribution in all six American corners (over two 
hundred copies per AC). 
 
Details for each Corner are included in the spreadsheet being sent 
via email. 
 
¶6.  There have been several successful programs this past year. On 
December 14, the American Corner in Xanthi hosted an outstanding 
performance of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" by 20 junior high school 
students. The students, who attend a regional public school, 
rehearsed for two months with their English teacher, who organized 
and directed the play. The performance attracted an enthusiastic 
crowd which included the Mayor of Xanthi, Ministry of Education 
representatives, English language teachers, students and parents. 
 
¶7. On October 3, IRO Laura Kaspari-Hohmann gave a lecture at Ionian 
UniQ!QQ)QQ D)brary School to a group o& QQQQ Q"QQaries are facing today. 
 
¶8.  On October 1, the American Corner at the Hellenic American Union 
hosted a lecture by Joseph Lambert, CEO of the Center for Digital 
Storytelling.  Lambert presented the history and practice of his art 
to approximately 60 librarians and educators.  From October 2 - 3, 
Lambert organized a workshop in the American Corner in Veria with a 
digital storytelling program.  A group of 5 members of the library 
staff and 10 library users participated in the workshop. The 
Embassy's youth-oriented website, Mosaiko.gr, hosted an original 
interview with Lambert, promoting the program to its wide youth 
audience. 
 
Media Coverage 
 
¶9. Most ACs received good to very good local media coverage in 2008. 
There was significant coverage of all programs on the HAU and Veria 
Public Central Library websites. Our own Mosaiko.gr extensively 
covered the programs of all 6 American Corners in Greece. 
 
Visits and Training 
 
¶10. Every American Corner was visited at least once by a Mission 
staff member in 2008. PD staff visits to the ACs country-wide 
numbered at least 20 in 2008. 
 
¶11. On September 29, the Athens Information Center hosted a workshop 
with the coordinators from the six existing American Corners in 
Greece.  Discussions included brainstorming sessions on programming, 
potential speakers, marketing, and new media.  We discussed the 
Embassy's Mosaiko.gr website, the IRC's English Language Program, 
and, through a DVC connection with Washington, AC Coordinator 
Barbara Conaty informed the participants about the latest 
developments in the AC program from Washington. 
 
Core Characteristics of Corners 
 
¶12. Details for each AC are included in the spreadsheet sent via 
e-mail. 
 
2008 Sustaining Funds Report 
 
¶13.  In 2008, Post received 
$22,995.13 FY008 sustaining funds from Washington which were used as 
follows: 
¶A. Paper shows for 6 ACs: $277.95 each. Total:  $1,667.71 
¶B. Books for 6 ACs: $2.277.90 each. Total: $13,643.42 
 
ATHENS 00000058  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶C. $5,000.00 grant to the Veria Public Library for a speaker on 
Digital Storytelling Workshop 
¶D. $2,684.00 for an AC director's workshop training in Athens 
 
Total:    $22,995.13 
 
¶14.  In 2008, Post allocated $4,450 to support the AC program in 
Greece. 
 
2009 Sustaining Funds Request 
 
¶15.  Post requests $58,340 in sustaining funds for FY09 to 
address AC needs as follows: 
 
¶A. Periodicals for 6 Corners: $800 each, total: $4,800 
¶B. Books and DVDs for 6 Corners: $5,000 each, total: $30,000 
¶C. Story Telling presentations/workshops in Nea 
Philadelphia/Sparti/Veria/Xanthi including travel expenses for one 
escort: $6,700 
¶D. Regional training workshop/travel of Corner Directors: $6,840 
¶E. Speaker programming: $4,000 
¶F. Operating expenses (photocopying, mailing, etc.): $1,000 
¶G. Purchase of 6 television sets and 6 DVD players plus one computer 
and one printer: $5,000 
¶H. Combined Request for 6 Corners: $58,340 
 
Technology Needs 
 
¶16. Equipment upgrades are an important part of this year's 
sustaining funds grant request.  We would like to purchase new 
televisions and DVDs for all our Corners that do not yet have them 
(Corfu, HAU, Nea Philadelphia), and to replace dilapidated or 
damaged equipment in Corners that do (Sparti, Xanthi, Veria). This 
equipment is vital for holding movie nights, which are among the 
most popular and easiest-to-organize activities conducted at the 
ACs. In addition, the AC in Xanthi needs a new computer, and one 
printer to support administrative, communication and programming 
needs. 
 
Plan for the future, Strategy for improvement 
 
¶17. A key component for 2009 programming will be the reinforcement 
of English Language Teaching (ELT) 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. 
 
¶18. Of special note is a series of workshops and presentations at 
four American Corners by a storyteller. After two successful 
presentatins at the HAU and Nea Philadelphia ACs by artist Linda 
Gorham in 2006, there is a desire to extend this program to the rest 
of the ACs in Veria, Xanthi, and Sparti, and to conduct workshops 
for English language teachers in Athens (Nea Philadelphia) and 
Thessaloniki.  Out of a two-week program (twelve program days), 
Linda Gorham will be scheduled for 6 program days in 4 ACs.  The 
remaining four program days will take place in Greek elementary and 
high schools and the cost will be covered with Post funds. 
 
¶19. Post also hopes to participate in a regional training program 
for AC directors in southern Europe, organized by IRO Laura 
Kaspari-Hohmann. The goal is to share best practices and discuss 
efforts to further support and energize AC programming.  This 
program will highlight successes, discuss other new ideas, and 
encourage the AC directors of this region to further develop a 
network amongst themselves. 
 
Compliance issues 
 
¶20. All six 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 are available 
on request. 
 
¶21. Post's IRO has reviewed this plan and concurs. 
SPECKHARD 
 
 
 
 
 
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