VZCZCXRO8339
RR RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #0529/01 0720512
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 130512Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1839
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUCADHQ/USCENTCOM FWD
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 9974
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 4595
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 9872
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 5836
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 6909
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 1230
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 3892
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9118

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 000529 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O.  12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID PGOV PHUM PINR PREL PREF KPAO PK
SUBJECT:  FATA STUDENTS "EXPERIENCE AMERICA" 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  On March 10, Principal Officer, US Consulate in 
Peshawar, USAID Deputy Director for the FATA Development Program and 
USAID OTI representative met with 15 recent returnees from the 
Experience America Program (EAP).  This USAID multi-year student 
exchange program is designed to improve understanding of America and 
its values with FATA youth while educating Americans on the FATA. 
Twenty-two students participated in the pilot phase.  Based on an 
interview with some of the returnees, Embassy believes our 
expectations were more than achieved and plans to send an additional 
130 students this summer, with a goal of 500 over the next five 
years. End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) On March 10, Principal Officer, US Consulate in Peshawar, 
USAID Deputy Director for the FATA Development Program and USAID OTI 
representative met with 15 recent returnees from pilot Experience 
America Program (EAP), an exchange program funded under the USAID 
FATA Livelihoods Development Program (LDP) and supported by the 
Peshawar Public Affairs section.  The EAP is administered by The 
Academy for Educational Development (AED), one of two USAID lead 
implementing partners for the LDP.  This organization has extensive 
experience in running such programs.  EAP's objective is to bridge 
the cultural gap between the FATA and the United States by providing 
an opportunity to the youth of the tribal areas to have a firsthand 
experience of America while simultaneously providing an opportunity 
for Americans to interact with the tribal students and learn about 
the Pashtun tribal culture, traditions and norms.   Over the next 
five years USAID, through AED, expects to send 500 students to the 
US.  USAID is preparing to send an additional 130 students to the 
U.S. this summer.  This effort represents a cooperative effort 
between USAID and Public Affairs that the consulate plans to 
continue. 
¶3. (SBU) Twenty-two students participated in the pilot phase of the 
program.  All returned.  They represented most Agencies and Frontier 
Regions.  Three women took part in the program.  The program 
consisted of a structured two month program, undertaken from January 
to March.  The program included a week in Washington, D.C, where the 
participants received orientation, including a visit to USAID, and 
meetings with Assistant Secretary of State, Richard Boucher, and 
Congressional staff.  Participants then moved to one of two 
universities - Kansas State University and California State 
University at Chico.  At these universities, the students 
participated in specially designed programs in such topics as 
watershed management, irrigation, business and agricultural 
extension.   All were provided accelerated English language study. 
All had access to religious facilities at the universities and the 
adjoining areas.  Most importantly they all became part of the 
respective student body at each university.  The group from Kansas 
State was particularly enthusiastic and called themselves "wildcats" 
after the KSU basketball team.  The third part of the program 
included an extensive stay with an American family. 
¶4. (SBU) All returnees spoke highly of the program.  The 
participants spoke freely and positively of their experience. 
There were no serious cultural issues.  In the pre-departure 
meetings, many worried about potential crime and racial issues while 
in the states.  These fears appear to have been allayed during the 
visit.  The returnees were struck with how Americans cooperate, 
their sense of social responsibility through community volunteer 
activities and individual responsibility for actions.  All spoke 
highly of the home stays.  One participant, who was hospitalized 
during the trip, was touched when his home stay sponsor stayed with 
him for two days while he was in the hospital.   All commented on 
the openness and kindness of the families with whom they stayed. 
AED is now working with the returnees to develop a post trip 
program.  They have already provided the returnees with an encrypted 
web-site in order to stay connected and will develop programs with 
the returnees that will add to the experience.   Several of the 
returnees will provide mentoring services for future participants 
and have offered to be on selection committees.   They were all 
supportive of the idea that this remain a program between the U.S. 
Embassy and the students of the FATA. 
¶5.  (SBU) Embassy believes the program has more than met our 
objectives.   These students were bright and articulate, and many of 
them will be political, community and business leaders in the 
future.  It is obvious the Experience America Program touched them 
and added a better understanding of what America is and its beliefs. 
 This was done through interacting with ordinary Americans and 
seeing what Pashtuns from the FATA have in common with Americans. 
¶6.  (SBU) The Experience America Program is one of several programs 
which USAID is implementing under LDP to reach the youth of the 
FATA.  USAID is also partnering with the Public Affairs Section to 
 
ISLAMABAD 00000529  002 OF 002 
 
 
establish a Lincoln Corner at Gomel University in DI Khan.  USAID 
implementing partner Cooperative Housing Foundation constructed and 
equipped the Lincoln Corner and PAS is providing material support 
for the program.  We expect the program to be operational shortly. 
USAID is also supporting literacy programs, skills development and 
vocational training and sports programs throughout the FATA to 
engage youth and provide options outside of militancy.  These 
programs are in their infancy, but we expect to see encouraging 
results as programs are rolled out and additional youth participate 
over the next few years. 
 
PATTERSON