Somali Diaspora Youth Program Leads to Breakthrough in Denmark:  Public Affairs Section Copenhagen co-hosted a Danish-Somali youth event with the Danish government.  Two contacts of the Embassy from the Minnesotan Somali-American community traveled to Copenhagen to speak at the event, where participants were told, "unpack your bags," that is, make Denmark your home and participate fully in Danish society.  The event also made an impression on Danes skeptical of Muslim integration, as the Jyllands-Posten newspaper - which printed the original Muhammad cartoons - published its first pro-Somali article which quoted directly the "unpack your bags" speech from the event.

Art Without Artificial Boundaries: Embassy Celebrates Freedom of Artistic Expression: More than 300 musicians, filmmakers, photographers, artists, designers, actors and other guests gathered at the U.S. Embassy in Minsk on July 11 to celebrate freedom of artistic expression, a liberty that people never stop yearning for, as

Charg� d'Affaires Michael Scanlan said at the opening of the event.  This annual Embassy music festival provides talented Belarusian musicians an opportunity to perform despite restrictions imposed due to their political views or social activism.  This year's event featured, in addition to musical groups of various genres, several artistic exhibitions and showcased a documentary about the challenges that Belarusian musicians and other artistic personalities continue to face.  Such restrictions are "incomprehensible for a country in the center of Europe in the third millennium," added Charg� Scanlan. 

Ambassador Rice Video Viewed Widely in Libya:  In the run-up to Libya's July 7 election, IIP worked with USUN and Embassy Tripoli to produce a broadcast quality video message of Ambassador Susan Rice congratulating the Libyan people on their political progress and encouraging them to exercise their right to vote.  The video, which combined compelling images from the recent revolution and footage of Ambassador Rice's statement, aired several times a day on Libyan TV channels in the three days prior to the election. It was viewed nearly 12,000 times on YouTube and garnered 2,331 likes, 976 shares and 413 comments via Facebook and Twitter. 

American Hip Hop Artist Teaches Tolerance and Empowerment in Kyrgyzstan:  During a recent 5-day speaking engagement, American rap and hip-hop artist Will Power conducted interactive lectures with more than 1,000 university students, school children, and young musicians in orphanages, high schools, and
ethnically diverse communities
throughout Kyrgyzstan. Using performance art to communicate tolerance and empowerment, Power urged Kyrgyz youth to be socially responsible while fulfilling their leadership potential.  Embassy Bishkek praised Power, underscoring the power of hip-hop artists with positive messages to be effective role models for youth in a region still dealing with ethnic and regional tension.  

Democratic and Republican Speakers Lead Panel Discussion with Mumbai:  On July 12, U.S. Consulate Mumbai hosted the first in a series of virtual programs on the U.S. Elections.  The program, "Strategies for the 2012 Presidential Campaign," connected a live audience in Mumbai with two Washington-based political experts: James Thurber (Democrat), Professor of Government, American University, and Ann Stone (Republican), President, The Stone Group, Inc.  Indian panel participants included members of the Legislative Assembly and the All-India Chairman of the Central Election Authority of the National Students' Union.  An additional 50-60 audience members at Consulate Mumbai included journalists, NGO and civil society leaders, academics and government and political science students.  The DVC was live-streamed on Facebook and the CO.NX/India portal.  

Iraqi Female Scientists Study STEM at Smith College:  From July 1-28, ten female Iraqi students and two faculty members from the University of Baghdad participated in an intensive Post-funded summer program at Smith College.  The program is designed to deepen their understanding of research in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields, improve their English abilities, and provide insight into American culture and higher education.

International Visitor Leadership Program Results Receive Positive Press Coverage:  On July 15, the cultural newspaper Al-Mada published a positive full-page report following an interview the Embassy facilitated with two participants of the 2012 Regional Project "Interfaith Dialogue."  The participants shared that they gained a better view about how religious organizations respond to the needs of their communities in the United States, and they also learned from their fellow program participants, who were clergymen from other Middle East and North Africa countries.  The article added that exchange programs are an important part of the relationship between the people of Iraq and the United States and contribute to the U.S.-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement.

U.S. Institution Attracts Potential Iraqi Students:  The University of Cincinnati created a website specifically tailored to Iraqi graduate and PhD scholarship students, making their application process easier to follow.  The university's efforts will help more Iraqi students take advantage of its academic programs.  The website is up now in English and Kurdish, with Arabic soon to follow:  http://admissions.uc.edu/iraq.html.  The Embassy continues to engage with a range of U.S. educational institutions to assist Iraqi students in studying in the United States.  

International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) Transforms Iraqi Views of Muslim Life in America:  A member of the Anbar Provincial Council shared his views of Muslim life in America after participating in the "Transparency in Federal, State, and Local Government" IVLP-with Mission political section staff.  He said his colleagues thought it was "impossible to be a Muslim in the United States, since the Americans all hate Muslims and kick them out of the country.  He responded to such claims, saying, "I immediately corrected my friends' misunderstanding and told them about the vibrant community of Muslims that I met in Miami.  I knew what they were saying was wrong, and I couldn't stay silent."

Baghdad Advising Center Up and Running:  On July 9, U.S. Embassy Baghdad's new Education Advising Center opened its doors for the first time with a presentation on graduate study in the U.S. for Iraqi graduate students and university faculty.  Two days later, the Public Affairs Information Resource Center (IRC) used the center for the first meeting of the Mustansiriyah University Book Club.  Information Resource Officer John D'Amicantonio led a discussion of To Kill a Mockingbird with 23 students and faculty.  

Camp for Girls Encourages Careers in Science:  On July 1, Consulate General Jerusalem and Al Najah University launched the first phase of the "Go Girls!" summer campat An Najah University in Nablus, West Bank.  "Go Girls!" is a part of a year-long program entitled "Women in Science:  Breaking the Glass Ceiling at Palestinian Universities."  The camp was led by 2011 Department of State Women in Science Hall of Fame winner, Dr. Ansam Sawalha, "Go Girls!" introduced 16 girls from the West Bank and East Jerusalem to the fields of pharmacology, biotechnology, molecular biology, and genetics, and provided them with women mentors in science.   

International Dining Festival Promotes Food Exports to Saudi Arabia:  Public Affairs Section Riyadh brought American chefs together to offer U.S. regional cuisine at the International Dining Festival July 6-13.  Volunteers from the embassy educated participants at the festival on U.S. food exports and Mission personnel-including Charge Tom Williams--conducted five media engagements.

Secretary Clinton and President Karzai Conduct Joint Press Availability:  On July 7, Secretary Clinton stopped in Kabul en route to the Tokyo Conference and held a joint press availability alongside President Karzai.  Secretary Clinton announced President Obama's official designation of Afghanistan as a major non-NATO ally of the United States, noting that this is a powerful symbol of our commitment to Afghanistan's future.  The Secretary went on to discuss the importance of the Tokyo Conference for the next stages of investment in the "transformation decade."  

Mission Helps Launch "The Millennium Alliance":  The Embassy provided wide media coverage for the launch of "The Millennium Alliance," an innovative partnership between the United States, India, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry to pool funds, resources, and corporate sponsorships.  The Millennium Alliance will provide social innovators with essential resources such as seed funding, business incubation services, networking opportunities, and technical assistance. The Ambassador's participation at this inaugural event received positive media play, and the USAID India Director's video cameo encouraged the submission of grant proposals.   

A Record Number of Fulbrighters Prepare for Departure:  180 new Fulbright Masters and PhD scholars from every province in Pakistan, the largest group of Pakistani Fulbrighters ever, prepare to head off for universities throughout the United States.

Ambassador Andrew, Labor Minister Survey Youth Unemployment Solutions:  On July 10, Ambassador Anne Andrew and Costa Rican Minister of Labor Sandra Piszk convened a roundtable to explore remedies to youth unemployment. The Ambassador discussed the U.S. government's commitment to providing Costa Rican youth with the tools to enter the workforce, through the English Access Microscholarship Program and grants from the Central American Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) that target at-risk populations.

The roundtable featured representatives from CARSI grant recipients, universities, nonprofit foundations, and the Public Affairs and Political/Economic sections of the U.S. Embassy. The Ambassador's participation was featured on the U.S. Embassy's blog and on other social media outlets.

Third Generation of J�venes en Acci�n Heads to the U.S.:  The third generation of J�venes en Acci�n (Youth in Action) traveled to the United States on July 7 to participate in a summer exchange focused on leadership and service learning.  The group of 77 high school students from 13 states across Mexico came together in the Distrito Federal for a pre-departure program, including an official inauguration ceremony at the Secretariat for Public Education, sessions on cross-cultural understanding and a culture of lawfulness, and a farewell reception.

Each of the 17 participating student teams has proposed a community service project focused on youth empowerment or the prevention of violence or drug abuse.  In the United States, they will develop leadership, team work, and English language skills, and learn from peers, government representatives, and NGOs about how ordinary Americans are making a difference in their communities. 

Representatives from the Embassy, the Mexican Secretariats for Public Education and Foreign Relations, and private sector partners participated in the formal inauguration and farewell reception.  Media covered both events.