Ivoirian Muslim businesswomen learn more about Muslims, particularly Muslim women, in America. On March 12, 2009, twenty Muslim women from the Association of Muslim Businesswomen and the Muslim Students’ Association joined the webchat discussion on ‘Life as a Businessperson, Mother, and Muslim in America.’ Participants expressed appreciation for the opportunity to exchange and learn more about the life of Muslims in the United States.They noted the challenges facing American Muslim women, who work outside their homes and have to juggle job demands, family obligations and religious obligations, such having to pray five times a day. Web chat participant, Mrs. Mariam Fofana, requested that the group be included in future web chats. She said: “Today, I know more about the life of Muslims women in America; this is a good way to know more about others around the world.” The IRC offered copies of the IIP publication ‘La vie des Musulmans aux Etats-Unis’ to the participants.
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In observance of International Women's Day, PAS Abidjan participated in a one-hour live radio discussion on Radio Al Bayane, a national Muslim radio station, on the subject of “The Role of Women in Society.” The call-in show on March 5, 2009 featured Silvia Eiriz, Embassy Abidjan’s Political and Economic Counselor; Haja Cisse Makoni, a high school teacher, former International Visitor and President of the NGO Benovolat USA-Cote d’Ivoire; and Imam Kone Ibrahim. While Haja Cisse Makoni talked about the role Ivorian women play both at home and in other sectors of society, Ms. Eiriz used the occasion to explain how American women help shape US history, especially their struggle to enable women to vote. She said that the U.S. celebrates women’s contributions to the world across many areas, including their achievements as scientists, engineers, politicians, writers, filmmakers, conservationists, teachers, community organizers, religious leaders and businesswomen.
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PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA |
My fellow citizens:
I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you’ve bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition. Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.... (more)
On January 19, 2009, PAO and Public Affairs staff presented a religious outreach program at the Islamic Center Aç Habul Kalah in Koumassi, a poor section of Abidjan with one of the ity’s largest Muslim communities. More than 600 participants attended the event, including 23 imams and religious leaders from other faiths.... (more)
Over four hundred students and professors from the Department of Law of Cocody University participated in a Public Affairs Section program that covered democratic values and the peaceful transition of power in the U.S., followed by a lively presentation on keys to excellence in learning. The IRC also reviewed power point slides showing online resources available on www.america.gov, as well as various IRC print materials. IRC Director Marie Laure Angoran drew on the Nouveaux Horizons book Elements of Learning to stress the qualities needed for success, whether as a leader, someone beginning a career, or a student. At the end, the PAO presented ARS Nouveaux Horizons books and IIP E-journals on ‘World Youth: Building a Future’ and ‘Choosing a Career’ to Professor Meledje Djedjero, the Dean of the Department of Law. The program met with great enthusiasm, with students staying for over three hours to ask questions.
As the year 2008 has ended, I take this opportunity to congratulate the people of Côte d’Ivoire for their patience and wisdom. Much progress has been made this year towards resolving the crisis that has kept this lovely country under a cloud for far too long, and the road ahead is still difficult. I am confident, however, that Côte d’Ivoire will regain its leadership role in the region and I call on all the political actors in the country to re-commit themselves to peace and to make 2009 the last year in which Ivorians wonder when they will see a return to normal life.... (more)
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On December 05, 2008, U.S. Ambassador Wanda Nesbitt signed twelve individual activity agreements worth a total of seventy thousand U.S. dollars ($70,000) to support community development activities throughout Cote d’Ivoire. The Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Program, funded through USAID, permits U.S. ambassadors to respond to requests for assistance to small community projects that promise to have an immediate impact.... (more)
Abidjan, November 7th 2008 -- The Government of the United States of America is pleased to announce that it has provided a grant in the amount of 200,000 U.S. dollars to the Carter Center to contribute funding the Center’s political monitoring and electoral observation project in Côte d’Ivoire. The goal of the project is to support the peaceful resolution of Cote d’Ivoire’s political crisis through democratic processes and representational government.... (more)
Over 160 students from a secondary school in the eastern Ivorian town of Aboisso volunteered for HIV/AIDS screening tests while participating in an Embassy “HIV/AIDS Caravan” program in connection with World AIDS Day. The program was organized jointly with CARE-Cote d’Ivoire, a PEPFAR partner.... (more)
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Create a video short that completes the phrase "Democracy is…" (Guidelines and Official Rules)
On November 4, 2008, the people of the United States will elect their president. During the same period, Ivoirians would also choose their president in an election that is widely seen as the best way forward to resolve Cote d’Ivoire’s six-year old crisis. The U.S. Embassy in Abidjan believed that these major events offered a unique opportunity to expose Ivorians including Government officials, politicians, members of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), representatives of civic groups, women’s organizations, businessmen, youth, and students to the American electoral system.... (more)
On September 16, 2008 Ambassador Wanda L. Nesbitt signed four agreements worth a total of ninety thousand U.S. dollars (USD 90,000) to support the work of human rights organizations in Cote d'Ivoire.... (more)
After a month-long closing for its annual inventory, the Information Resource Center (IRC) of the US Embassy reopened its doors to the public on September 03, 2008. Over 100 people, including representatives from the Ministries of National Education and Culture, other high ranking government officials, the World Bank, writers, NGO leaders, teachers, students, writers, publishers and media attended the opening ceremony.... (more)
On July 24, PAS Abidjan organized a lively DVC on tolerance with ARS speaker Dr. Susan Perry. Sixty participants included the Minister of National Reconciliation; representatives from the Presidency, Prime Minister’s office, the Ministry of Interior Affairs and the Ministry of Communication; and religious leaders, magistrates, presidents of women’s and youth associations, and media professionals. Charge Cynthia Akuetteh stressed the importance of drawing on the talents of all groups in an ethnically diverse country such as the United States or Cote d’Ivoire. Dr. Perry addressed the principles and requirements of tolerance, the relationship between tolerance and democracy, and case studies from the United States and France.... (more)
With $120 million to support the fight against HIV/AIDS in Côte d’Ivoire this year, PEPFAR – the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief – has the numbers to prove we are making a difference.Photographer Nadia Bettega went looking for something beyond the numbers. On Monday, July 28, PEPFAR and the Embassy Public Affairs Office will unveil the faces of HIV she found at hospitals and clinics, at community social centers, in support groups, at a clinic for sex workers, in local organizations that help vulnerable children, at a mosque, in private homes in cities and villages from Abobo to Ouangolodougou.... (more)
On July 17 PAS Abidjan partnered with Radio Al Bayane, the main Muslim radio station in Cote d’Ivoire, to organize a live call-in program on the theme: “HIV/AIDS and Behavior Change.” The program featured PEPFAR Country Coordinator Jyoti Schlesinger; PAS Information Specialist Folli Teko; a representative from the Ministry of Health; and Imam Cisse Djiguiba, the Director of the radio and President of an NGO fighting HIV/AIDS. The show was a great success and provided an opportunity to stress the importance of prevention, testing and care, as well as providing information on PEPFAR supported programs. Imam Cisse Djiguiba in particular was able to address some of the challenges facing the Muslim community in its fight against HIV/AIDS, as well as focusing on the need to reject stigma and help those dealing with the disease. Originally planned for one hour, the program ran fifteen minutes over because of the large number of questions from listeners and the Producer recorded the program for re-broadcasting.
Over sixty AC members gathered June 28, 2008 at the American Corner CIRES in Abidjan to express their gratitude to the U.S. Embassy Office Manager, Desiree Bartley. In 2006, she was one of the trainers who conducted an English Teaching Seminar, and volunteered to share her experience in business English and job interview skills. Her most memorable activity was an informal discussion on "American Hospitality" that she hosted at her residence on October 29, 2005. The program gathered about 40 people, including 10 American diplomats. The American Corner members noted her dedication over the past several years in working with the American Corner community to build bridges between the people of the United States and Cote d’Ivoire. The celebration focused on traditional Ivorian culture and included singing, dancing and feasting. She received support from other US Embassy diplomats and colleagues including the Deputy Public Affairs Officer, Etta Toure.
Dr. Sheldon Gellar, an American political scientist and research associate, who visited Côte d’Ivoire from June 7 to June 14, 2008 spoke on the U.S. elections. Other issues including the importance of free and fair elections in a democratic society, grassroots democracy in the U.S., and the involvement of youth and women’s organizations in the electoral process, were also addressed during conferences organized by the U. S. Embassy in Abidjan, Yamoussoukro and Bouake. More than one thousand people took part in the programs.... (more)
About 2000 students from high schools in Tiassalé took part May 29 in the US Embassy’s “HIV/AIDS Caravan” program. Designed to create awareness and build capacity to combat and prevent HIV/AIDS among students, as well as the general population, the program also brought together Ivorian government officials, local medical officers, teachers and representatives of NGOs involved in the struggle against the spread of the disease.... (more)
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On May 28, 2008, visiting students from Oral Roberts University and the University of Virginia had a lively information sharing conversation with English speaking students from the universities of Bouake and Cocody in Côte d’Ivoire.... (more)
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Over 70 Ivorian journalists, editors, members of the Ministry of Communication and Prime Minister's Office, representatives of the Independent Electoral Commission, media regulatory bodies, NGOs and university students participated in a lively discussion with veteran journalist Eduardo Cue via a Digital Video Conference hosted by ARS Paris. Focusing first on the role of the media in the U.S. presidential election, debate later turned to the realities of being a journalist reporting on the presidential election scheduled for November 30 in Cote d'Ivoire.... (more) (Photo Gallery)
The US Embassy in Abidjan organized April 29, 2008 a lively Digital Video Cconference on the US Presidential Primaries. The topic was of great interest to the Ivorian audience as long-delayed presidential elections have recently been set for November 30, 2008. Paris-based Professor Arun Kapil, an expert on the US electoral system, spoke on various aspects of the primary system and the current electoral campaign in the U.S. during this program. The audience included members of parliament, representatives of political parties, and leaders of youth associations and NGOs. They agreed that the American electoral system, although one of the oldest in the world, continues to be a model for other countries. Noting the violence in Côte d'Ivoire associated with the last election, members of the audience pledged to adopt a positive attitude during the upcoming electoral campaign and accept the final results. They looked forward to additional DVCs on the elections and indicated they planned to discuss what they had learned about democracy with others.
On April 8, 2008 U.S. Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire Wanda L. Nesbitt signed agreements with nine Ivorian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to finance projects that will contribute to the development of villages throughout the country. The agreements signed total seventy thousand U.S. dollars ($70,000); the funds are awarded under the terms of the Ambassador’s Special Self Help Fund.... (more)
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The U.S. government’s PEPFAR initiative has approved a plan to spend $120.5 million USD (about 51.831.298.290 FCFA) to extend the fight against HIV/AIDS in Cote d’Ivoire, an increase of 43% from the previous fiscal year.The budget, covering the period April 1, 2008 – March 31, 2009, will support 37 prime partners and more than 75 subpartners providing HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment services throughout the country.... (more)
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On March 15, 2008 the American Corner CIRES hosted a conference to commemorate Women's History Month. The forum brought together women including professionals and university and secondary school students. Sarah Callinan, Head of the US Embassy Medical Unit, Pamela Lafontaine, Head of the Open Source Center and Etta Toure, Deputy Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy spoke about women's leadership with a special focus on their specific domain of activities including media, medicine and the military. Speakers shared their experience of social and professional achievements in fields that are usually considered as men's jobs. Participants held a lively discussion on the role of women in Cote d'Ivoire and pledged to assume the challenge to contribute to every level of social development.
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In celebration of International Women’s Month, the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section organized a conference on ‘Women leadership development’ on Wednesday March 5, 2008. This conference, which is designed for young girls from 10 to 18 years old particularly top of their grade levels, gathered more than 130 participants including students, teachers, media professionals and school principals from 16 public, private and confessional High Schools in Abidjan. This conference was designed to empower and energize young girls.... (more)
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The US Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire organized a beautiful concert at the Ambassador’s Residence on March 1, 2008 in Abidjan to round off a month-long Black History Month Celebration. The show featured an Ivorian renowned gospel group called "Domination", which sang in duo with "A Medley of Voices", the US Embassy’s vocal group. After Ambassador Wanda L. Nesbitt’s welcome address, the two groups entertained the guests through songs like "Down by the riverside"; "Go down Moses"; "Rock my soul"; "Soon and very soon"; and "Thanks you very much." This concert was past of a series of activities including conferences and film shows organized by the US Embassy to honor and celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments and the rich heritage of African Americans who helped bring the United States closer to fulfilling its founding ideals.... (more)
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Ambassador Wanda L. Nesbitt underscored the legacy of Rosa Parks and the impact of the civil rights struggle on the life of African Americans in US. The US Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire was speaking during a film show and a conference organized February 13, 2008 by the embassy to commemorate the African American History Month at the English Department of the Teachers' Training College in Abidjan. The event brought together more than 350 people including lecturers, teachers, and the management of the school, and featured an historical documentary entitled: "Rosa Parks – Mighty Times." The aim was to reach out at students as well as teachers whose major topics focused on American culture and history.
The U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section organized February 23, 2008 a conference to commemorate the African American History Month at the American Corner in Tiassalé, a city located about 130 km north of Abidjan. The objective of this activity was to give American Corner patrons the opportunity to test their English speaking skills. But more importantly, the American Corner wanted its patrons to have the chance to talk about the United States with American diplomats in Côte d’Ivoire. More than 80 people including students, teachers, headmasters, civil servants, the local council members, the mayor, Yapi Lambert, and his town council attended the program, which allowed a direct contact between the diplomats and Ivorians in an informal setting.... (more)
On Saturday February 02, 2008 American Corner-CIRES Abidjan hosted a three-hour program to celebrate African American History Month. After viewing the ARS Paris provided video "Martin Luther King Jr., A Man of Peace," participants examined the civil rights leader's non-violent philosophy. Panel participants included the Embassy's Administrative Officer, who had marched with Dr. King; the Head of the English Department of the National Teacher Training School; and the Secretary General of an association of English clubs. The eighty participants, mostly students, engaged in a rich and active discussion about the meaning of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy today, with many saying they hoped to learn from his ideas how to extricate Cote d'Ivoire from its period of civil war and instability to sustain the peaceful reunification of the country. This theme was stressed in newspaper coverage of the event and national Ivorian TV broadcast a story on the program twice.
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Five American Corner directors were trained on January 24, 2008 on how to run an American Corner. The training mainly focused on programming in American Corners, including grant writing, fund raising, marketing and reporting on American Corner activities. Visiting IRO, Anne Johnson, Angèle Gnako and Honore Guy Koffi, respectively Cultural Affairs Specialist and Cultural Affairs Assistant, led the session, which was designed to increase awareness and understanding of the role and purpose of American Corners. Participants also evaluated and implemented ideas for successful programming. The day-long session offered the directors of the American Corners the opportunity to strengthen their knowledge in US information resources available on the Internet, and to share their experiences and ideas.
The town hall of Sikensi was filled to its capacity on January 30, 2008 when US Embassy in Abidjan took its program dubbed "HIV/AIDS Caravan" to this city located about one hour off the capital. More than thousand students, teachers and local officials attended the two-hour program. It was designed to create awareness in combating and preventing this disease amongst the students.... (more)
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Ambassador Mark P. Lagon, Director of the U.S. State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, will visit Cote d’Ivoire January 23-24, 2008. The primary purpose of his trip is to consult with senior government officials and non-governmental leaders regarding the progress Cote d’Ivoire has made in combating trafficking in persons for the purposes of child labor and sexual exploitation.... (more)
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On January 17, 2008, a returnee International Visitor spoke on "promoting tolerance through the arts" during a conference organized by the US Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire. The famous Ivorian singer Oren’Tchy (Kablan Kacou Michel) used the occasion to share his American experience with an audience composed of artists, journalists, NGO activists and the students association. The IV alumnus was one of the rare artists to sound the alarm bell on a threatening instability in Côte d’Ivoire. The program was aimed at spreading the ideal of tolerance amongst Ivorians in order to help consolidate peace and reconciliation in Côte d’Ivoire.
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Today, January 9, a U.S. Congressional delegation, consisting of U.S. Representative Eliot Engel, and Senators Thomas Harkin and Bernard Sanders concluded a two-day trip to Cote d'Ivoire to see first hand how stakeholders are implementing the Harkin-Engel Protocol. During the visit, the delegation had the opportunity to visit a typical cocoa-producing community (Kouamekro, near Tiassalé and Divo in the Sud-Bandama Department) and engage in a dialogue with cocoa producing families and assess the assistance given to the village by the ICI, the International Cocoa Initiative, a foundation created under the protocol.... (read full text of the statement) (PDF Photo album) (Photo Gallery)
December 13-14, 2007, the US Embassy in Abidjan used the Handbook of Independent Journalism to train about 40 young Ivorian journalists drawn from both public and independent media outlets. The training was led by six veteran Ivorian journalists and media consultants; three of them were former International Visitors. With no specialized journalism school in Cote d’Ivoire, most journalists in this country – especially the younger generation of reporters – are either graduates from communication and public relations schools or other degree-holders who get trained on the job. As one trainer put it, "They [the young journalists] ignore the basics of the profession and hence become the mouthpieces of interest groups – especially political leaders." ... (more)
The Director of the American Cultural Center, Ms Sharon White spoke December 5, 2007 about Thanksgiving celebrations in the U.S. and American Corner operations at the Cocody University English Department. The conference, which was organized by the VOA Listeners Club brought together students and teachers.... (more)
To scrutinize the role of the media in rumor management and to strengthen free and independent journalism in Cote d’Ivoire, the American Cultural center invited a select group of 30 young Ivoirian journalists from both public and private media for a discussion with American University of Paris journalism professor, Georges Kazolias.... (more)
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The U.S. Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Wanda L. Nesbitt said: “Leading the way together, the people of Côte d’Ivoire and the United States can and will achieve much more in the fight against HIV/AIDS.” Ambassador Nesbitt made this statement in an Op-Ed, as the world marked the World AIDS Day on December 1, 2007. For World AIDS Day 2007, the governments of Côte d’Ivoire and of the United States have chosen complementary themes: “Leadership” and “The Power of Partnerships.” According to Ambassador Nesbitt, “The two [themes] go hand in hand, emphasizing the importance of political will and highlighting the successes and promise of partnerships in the fight against HIV/AIDS.".... (read the full text of the Op-Ed) (PDF Photo gallery)
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To mark World AIDS Day, the US Embassy in Abidjan took its "HIV/AIDS Road Show" to Danane and Man, two major cities controlled by the New Forces (former Ivorian rebels) in Western Cote d’Ivoire. For some years now, outreach programming in this region was not possible due to the volatile situation on the ground. However, there have been some signs of normalization recently and the embassy used this opportunity to reach out to audiences that were cut off during the civil war. The aim of these outreach programs was to sensitize people, especially youth, living in the remotest parts of the country about how to prevent HIV/AIDS. The films also emphasized acceptance of people living with the disease.... (more) (PDF Photo gallery)
On November 24, 2007, American Corner CIRES organized a program on Thanksgiving celebrations in the U.S. as part of its Perspective on America, a monthly program designed to give Ivorians the opportunity to learn more about the United States and practice their English. It is also a unique occasion for the American community to exchange views with Ivorians and share experiences about an aspect of American life.... (more)
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Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen. I am pleased to be here in Côte d'Ivoire and I have had very good meetings during my stay. Today, I met with President Laurent Gbagbo and Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, as well as with former Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara and PDCI Secretary General Professor Alphonse Djedje Mady. I also met with United Nations officials and representatives of civil society, many of whom are involved in promoting democracy.... (read full text of the statement) (photo gallery)
Ms. Nesbitt was sworn-in as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire on September 25, 2007 by Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte. Prior to becoming Ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire she served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Consular Affairs which is responsible for providing services to American citizens living and traveling abroad, adjudicating U.S. passport applications, and applications by foreign nationals to visit or reside in the United States. In her capacity as PDAS, Ms. Nesbitt was responsible for the overall management of the bureau and had direct oversight of the Consular Systems, Fraud Prevention Programs and Policy Coordination Divisions.... (more)
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On November 6, 2007, Ambassador Wanda L. Nesbitt met with Ivoirian President, Laurent Gbagbo to present her credential letters as Ambassador of the United States to Côte d’Ivoire. The ceremony was held at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan. In a statement, Ambassador Nesbitt reaffirmed the good relations between the United States and Côte d’Ivoire. She encouraged the Ivoirian political stakeholders to implement without delay the Ouagadougou Political Accord. The American diplomat also promised to help bring investment and trade to Côte d’Ivoire, as the country takes steps to make itself a more transparent, business-friendly environment. (Read full text of the statement)
The US Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire organized two Iftaar dinners as part of the Ramadan celebration. On October 10, 2007, the DCM, Mrs Cynthia Akuetteh, hosted an Iftaar dinner for Côte d’Ivoire’s Muslim Community at her residence. The US new Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Mrs Wanda L. Nesbitt also attended the ceremony, designed to strengthen the ties between the Embassy and the Ivoirian Muslim Community.... (more) Photo album
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The Deputy Director of the American Cultural Centre, Etta Touré, presented on October 2, 2007 a wide range of materials to the Newspaper Publishers Association of Côte d’Ivoire (GEPCI). Mrs Touré was meeting the Ivoirian newspaper publishers for the first time since she assumed duty five weeks ago.... (more)
On September 21, 2007, about hundred youths took part in "Sports for Life", a program designed by the American Embassy to round off week-long activities in Abengourou. The youths were introduced – some for the first time – to American games including Softball and Basketball. Trainers were: Emily McCarthy, Ayemere Okojie, Matthew Galvin, and Guy Honoré Koffi, all of whom were from the American Embassy. To support the prospective Softball and Basketball players who showed great interests in the American sports, the Embassy donated many gadgets including balls and T-shirts. Participants also received handouts on how to play Softball and Basketball.
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In a bid to support quality education and to strengthen human capacity, the Information Resources Center (IRC) organized from September 17-18 in Abengourou two conferences on "Elements of teaching"; "Elements of learning" and "To run an effective high school library." About 150 librarians attended the sessions, which was run in connection of the American Day.... (more)
The Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Abidjan, Mrs. Cynthia Akuetteh, met with six students from various Universities in Cote d’Ivoire on September 14, 2007. The students are the initial group of participants in Embassy Abidjan's Internship Program, which was introduced in September 2007. The six student interns were selected from a group of 70 applicants from the best schools and universities in Cote d’Ivoire, after rigorous vetting.... (more)
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