VZCZCXRO1245
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHCO #0252 1680946
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 170946Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY COTONOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0971
INFO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1465
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS COTONOU 000252 
 
PARIS FOR ARS (DWINTON) 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/PD (ANYASO, TITUS, LISENBY), AF/W (ACOOK) 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO BN
SUBJECT: BENIN PREDEPARTURE ORIENTATION REPORT 
 
¶1. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY: On June 4,2009, the Public Affairs 
Section hosted a Pre-Departure Orientation for three Education and 
Exchange grantees: a Junior Staff Development Program (JSDP) 
grantee, Irene Mensah,  Project Officer for the African Women Food 
Farmer Initiative (AWFFI) Program at the Project Hunger NGO; a 
"Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages" (TESOL) grantee, 
Igor Akpovo, a teacher at the University of Abomey Calavi; and, a 
Humphrey grantee, Cletus Adohinzin, a Research officer at the 
Population Council NGO. 
 
¶2. DATE OF ACTIVITY: June 4, 2009; third quarter, FY 09. 
 
¶3. PROGRAM JUSTIFICATION/OBJECTIVES: The Pre-Departure Orientation 
was a good opportunity to present the challenges they will be facing 
during their U.S. experience, and allow them to ask questions about 
their programs. 
 
¶4. MPP UMBRELLA THEMES AND AUDIENCE REACHED: Subject program meets 
Post's objectives in Promoting Human Rights, Education and Mutual 
Understanding, and Investing in people. 
 
¶5. ACTIVITIES/IMPACT/RESULT: PAO Rhonda Watson delivered a send-off 
message encouraging participants to take advantage of this 
opportunity to enhance their academic and professional development, 
and to return to Benin as a change agent.  Cultural Affairs 
Assistant Taibatou Osseni delivered a PowerPoint presentation 
explaining what grantees should expect in the U.S. so that they 
would be prepared to face their new cultural and academic 
environment for the next two years.  Four Fulbright and Humphrey 
alumni were invited to share their U.S. experience with the new 
grantees. 
 
The Pre-Departure Orientation also served as an opportunity for the 
PAO to award certificates to a returned Fulbright Alumnus and two 
English teachers who had successfully completed the E-teacher online 
training in Business English and Teaching English to Young Learners. 
 After the formalities, the group enjoyed refreshments, jazz music 
and a discussion about tips for making the most of their experience 
in the U.S. 
 
¶6. NON-USG SOURCES OF IN-COUNTRY FUNDING/IN KIND SUPPORT: None 
 
¶7. QUALITY OF USG SUPPORT: Excellent. The Bureau of Education and 
Cultural Affairs and the International Institute of Education did a 
great job by providing useful information and documentation to the 
new grantees. 
 
RAWLINGS