Embassy Launches Debate Club in Uganda: An audience of 20 young Ugandans from diverse professional backgrounds participated in the second U.S. Mission Kampala debate club meeting.  The program, with the theme of "Economics and Entrepreneurship," was held at the Mission's Information Resource Center (IRC) and facilitated by Political Officer Danette Sullivan. The IRC and the Political Office have partnered to introduce this monthly debate program to encourage critical thinking, personal expression, and tolerance for others' opinions.  The debate club will take place once a month for a period of six months at the Embassy. Themes and topics to be discussed will vary each month.

Consulate General Durban "Rising" Against Gender-Based Violence: Public Affairs Section Durban joined with community organizations across the city in support of the global initiative "One Billion Rising," standing and dancing against gender-based violence. Young and old, black and white embraced the initiative with fervor and walked away with a renewed commitment to ending violence.  State Department American student intern Sulaiman Toghral joined in the fun and connected with local youth.  The event supported Post's priorities by exemplifying the United State's commitment to youth empowerment, gender parity, justice, and safety and security.

Alhurra's Critically Acclaimed Program Finds New Audience on Popular Egyptian Channel:  Alhurra's ground-breaking program "Rayheen ala Feen?" (Arabic for "Where Are We Going?") is being broadcast in primetime on the entertainment/news channel Al Hayat-1, one of the most popular channels in Egypt.  "Rayheen ala Feen?" follows the day-to-day lives of five young Egyptians as they adjust to a post-revolution Egypt.  Read more�

Citizen Journalism Training in Moldova Teaches Ethics and Innovation:  Sixteen Moldovan journalists and civil society activists, keen on using media as a tool to make government more transparent, completed a Broadcasting Board of Governors-sponsored workshop that focused on using mobile phones and new media tools to promote the free flow of information.  Read more�

Miss Minnesota USA Helps Promote American Businesses in Laos:  Using money from the Fund for Innovation in Public Diplomacy, Embassy Vientiane's Public Affairs Section mounted a campaign in January 2013 to raise awareness of U.S.-Lao business ties and promote the newly-formed Lao chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM.)  The star attraction of the campaign was Nitaya Panemalaythong, Miss Minnesota USA 2012 and the first Lao American to win the title.  Nitaya's two-week visit to Laos featured appearances at various American companies and non-profit associations including Ford Motors, and the U.S. Embassy's American Corners.  The campaign culminated in a trade exhibition and celebrity fashion show organized by AMCHAM, which drew over 200 visitors and generated unprecedented positive publicity for American companies doing business in Laos and for U.S. Embassy programs in general.

Ambassador Engages Malaysian Youth on Combating TIP:  As part of Post's strategy to raise the profile of trafficking in persons (TIP) in Malaysia in order to increase awareness and encourage improved government action, Ambassador Paul Jones led an Embassy-sponsored public outreach event to commemorate National Freedom Day, featuring a screening of the State Department-funded film "Journey to Freedom."  Post partnered with a leading youth anti-TIP nongovernmental organization (NGO), Project Liber8, to engage and inform more than 200 Malaysian youth about TIP through the film as well as powerful skits and live music.  In addition to youth guests, about a dozen members of the National Anti-TIP Council, including government officials and NGO representatives, attended the screening as well. 

Journey To Freedom

Embassy Rangoon Hosts First-Ever EducationUSA University Fair in Burma:  On February 13, Embassy Rangoon hosted representatives from eight universities, colleges, and community colleges and one representative from a testing service for the Embassy's first-ever EducationUSA University Fair.  Students also visited the EducationUSA booth, an American Center booth, and a U.S. Government exchange program alumni booth staffed by students and professionals who have previously studied in the United States.  Close to 1,000 people came to the event, and Ambassador Derek Mitchell and Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Assistant Secretary Ann Stock toured the fair and gave remarks about the importance of studying in the United States.  Press coverage was positive, and many students posted photos from the fair on their personal Facebook pages, amplifying the Embassy's overall reach.

Sports Diplomacy Brings Okinawan and American Youth Together:  Public Affairs Section Naha funded and organized the 7th Annual Okinawan- American Friendship Basketball Tournament which gathered players from four U.S. military school teams and eight Okinawan teams.  A professional basketball player in Okinawa opened the 2013 tournament by encouraging students to learn from one another and emphasizing that American and Okinawan players bring different skills to the court.  The tournament brought 200 Okinawan students onto the Kadena Air Base where they interacted with their American hosts, which promoted understanding and helped build support for the U.S.-Japan Alliance.  The event was covered by NHK -TV News.

TechWomen Alumnae Inspire Women and Girls in Jordan:  A group of nearly fifty TechWomen American mentors and alumnae from the Middle East and North Africa gathered in Jordan to promote careers in science and technology among women and girls and to share best practices in using technology for entrepreneurship.  Led by ECA Deputy Assistant Secretary Lee Satterfield, the TechWomen delegation visited high schools, universities, and youth nongovernmental organizations to discuss overcoming career challenges and networking among women professionals.  They also conducted e-commerce training for women artisans in the village of Koura.  

Fulbright Board Discusses Educational Exchanges for People with Disabilities:  During the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board's quarterly meeting U.S. Representative Tammy Duckworth and Gallaudet University President T. Allan Hurwitz gave inspiring remarks to kick off a panel discussion entitled "The Fulbright Experience: Reaching Out to All People with Disabilities."  The panel included Fulbright and Humphrey fellows with disabilities who offered both motivation and resources for addressing special needs and accommodations.  

Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Spotlighted at Fulbright Seminar: From February 14-17, more than 120 Fulbright Foreign Students convened in Phoenix, Arizona for a mid-year enrichment seminar focused on "Global Challenges, Local Solutions: Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability."  Keynote speakers and panels provided insight into the city's ongoing sustainability initiatives and the issues the city faces in as a major urban area in a desert environment.  Included in the four-day seminar were environmental community service activities to restore the Rio Salado habitat and learn about the Tres Rios constructed wetlands.

Burmese Delegation Focuses on Open Press:  A Burmese delegation including two representatives from the Myanmar Press Council and officials from the

Burmese officials and civil society representatives meet with Chief of ECA's Professional Fellows Division, Mike Stanton.

Ministry of Information and Attorney General's Office arrived in the United States on February 16 for a Professional Fellows Program focused on media-related legal reform.  Created in response to a request from the Burmese government, the two-week exchange included mini internships and high level meetings to develop crucial professional contacts to help them in the ongoing process of drafting media laws.

Montenegrin Audience Delighted by Howard Gospel Choir:  On the occasion of Black History Month, the U.S. Embassy in Podgorica, in cooperation with the Music Center of Montenegro, the Montenegrin National Theater, the Royal Theater Zetski Dom in Cetinje and the Cultural Center in Niksic organized a tour of the Howard University Gospel Choir from Washington, D.C., in Montenegro February 11-13.  In their honor, Ambassador Sue Brown hosted a brunch for over 60 high government officials, including President of Montenegro Filip Vujanovic and Foreign Minister Igor Luksic, as well as diplomatic, civil society and cultural Embassy contacts, who got a preview of the choir's performance.

The choir gave concerts to packed halls in Cetinje, Podgorica and Niksic to the delight of the Montenegrin audience which, for the first time in Montenegro, heard a gospel group singing.  The choir also visited the elementary school "Bozidar Vukovic Podgoricanin," attended mostly by internally displaced children and children from vulnerable families of the Roma population who live in Konik, Podgorica.  The children were thrilled by the opportunity to meet and sing along with the guests. One of the leading Montenegrin web portals "Vijesti" published an article about the choir's visit to the school, featuring a small video of kids interacting with the choir.  In addition, a number of Montenegrin media outlets reported on the choir's concerts in the three Montenegrin cities.  

Howard Gospel Choir in Podgorica, Montenegro, Europe

The United States and Austria Celebrate 175 Years Together:  Ambassador William C. Eacho and Austrian President Heinz Fischer gave remarks at the inaugural 175th anniversary event on February 13 at the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna, Austria.  Ambassador Eacho called the exhibit a "visual journey showing the highlights of U.S.-Austrian relations."  Public Affairs Vienna collaborated with Austrian and U.S. Governments, libraries and universities, creating a multi-media exhibit of a 22-panel display of photos, documents and other memorabilia, a 17.5-minute video with interviews from former ambassadors and public affairs officers, a 100-page booklet, and posters with a Quick Response code leading to the anniversary website.  All of the information has been shared with the Austrian Embassy in Washington, D.C.  President Fischer gave a heartfelt speech about growing up in post-WWII Austria and the appreciation he has for the support provided by the United States through the Marshall Plan.  He said, in particular, he developed a love of jazz listening to broadcasts by the armed services radio network.  A performance by a popular Vienna-based jazz band, led by American musician John Sass, provided a fitting tribute to the president and almost 250 other high-level guests from government, business and the diplomatic corps.  The opening was sponsored jointly by the U.S. Embassy and the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  The event marked the beginning of a yearlong celebration of diplomatic relations.  The exhibit will be displayed throughout Austria in 2013. 

Deputy Assistant Secretary Fang Visits the Belgrade American Corner:  During her trip to Serbia, Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) Bay Fang visited the American Corner (AC) in Belgrade on February 20 and participated in a popular AC program, "Ladies English."  DAS Fang shared details about her life as a diplomat and a reporter with the group of fifteen energetic female participants who welcomed the chance to practice their English language skills.  They expressed their appreciation for this English/computer course and the work of the Embassy family volunteer moderator. The Belgrade AC conducts innovative programming activities, including social media engagement, while emphasizing the AC's unique offerings of e-readers and e-books in Serbia, as well as a vast range of youth and children's programs.

Jazz Concert Deepens Ties with the National Library of Spain:  On February 15, Public Affairs Madrid co-hosted a jazz concert by musicians from the Berklee College of Music, Valencia Campus, with the National Library of Spain as part of the Library's 300th anniversary programming. Ambassador Alan Solomont delivered remarks to a full auditorium after which the group of seven musicians from the United States, Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Serbia, and Lithuania, thrilled the audience with their musical talents.  The concert was one of the parallel events organized to complement the special jazz exhibit, "Jazz at the National Library of Spain" which was also supported by PA Madrid.  The concert provided an opportunity for the general public to hear classic American jazz music and the collaborative effort strengthened the Embassy's relationship with the National Library of Spain - one of Spain's primary cultural and educational institutions. 

Engaging Youth as Partners in Indonesia:  The Secretary's Special Adviser for Global Youth Issues, Zeenat Rahman, and Indonesian Ambassador to the United States, Dino Djalal, joined U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Scot Marciel in an interactive dialogue with Embassy Jakarta's newly-formed Youth Council on February 11.  More than 200 youth and general audience members participated in the program at the @america Center, and the Youth Council in Medan connected via digital video conference.    

Under Secretary Sonenshine Visits Benjamin Franklin Library: On February 15, during an unofficial visit to Mexico, Under Secretary Tara Sonenshine dropped in on the Benjamin Franklin Library.  Her time at the Library - which celebrated its 70th anniversary last year - included a tour, overview of President Obama's "100,000 Strong in the Americas" initiative and a chat with students from one of the Library's seven English language conversation clubs.

IIP Coordinator Thanks the Supreme Court:  IIP Coordinator Dawn L. McCall visited the Supreme Court of the United States on February 19.  The Coordinator presented Certificates of Appreciation to Jeffrey P. Minear, counselor to the Chief Justice, and his staff for significantly elevating the role of the Court in U.S. public diplomacy rule of law programs.

New American Spaces in Poland and Italy:  On February 9, U.S. Ambassador Stephen Mull opened Poland's 6th American Corner in Lublin, an event attended by more than 70 city officials.  On February 14, nearly 300 people attended the inaugural event for YouLab Pistoia, a new science and technology American Corner in Italy that provides students digital and technology tools to create and innovate, bringing the total number of American Spaces worldwide to 853. 

Deputy Assistant Secretary Lee Satterfield opens TechWomen Program in Jordan: A delegation of TechWomen alumnae and Silicon Valley mentors gathered in Amman, Jordan to promote opportunities in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.  The delegates met with organizations across the Information Technology sector and visited schools to encourage girls to pursue careers in the tech sector.  Her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya, Deputy Chief of Mission Stephanie Williams, and Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary Lee Satterfield presented remarks at the opening ceremony of the TechWomen Conference.

U.S. Envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference Meets with Civil Society, Imams, Journalists: Rashad Hussein, President Obama's envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference, met with government officials, civil society, religious leaders, and press in Sana'a to discuss political transition, the National Dialogue, and Yemen's development needs.  After praying with local imams, he conversed with them about America's role in the Muslim world.  A press roundtable hosted by Hussein and Ambassador Gerald Feierstein allowed local journalists to ask about the results of the Arab Spring and the United State's support for democratic movements.

Urdu Spokesperson Discusses U.S. Foreign Policy with Pakistani Media:  The Department of Public Affairs' (PA) Urdu spokesperson, Nayyera Haq, traveled to Pakistan on February 9-20th to conduct talk show and radio interviews on Afghanistan policy and the importance of regional cooperation.  Over the course of the trip to Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, Haq participated in fifteen interviews and reached millions of Urdu speakers on the most influential media platforms in Pakistan.  Haq's interviews with Geo TV, Sindhi TV, FM 105 and 107, Express News Forum, Samaa TV, NewsOne, Radio Pakistan, ARY, Dunya TV,

Department of State and USAID Officials Detail Syrian Refugee Camp Visit in Internet Pieces: PA's Office of International Media Engagement facilitated the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration Assistant Secretary Anne Richard's op-ed in the Syria Deeply blog on February 11.  In the piece, "The State Department Weighs in on Aid for Syria," Assistant Secretary Anne Richard reflected on her trip to Syrian refugee camps and emphasized U.S. humanitarian aid efforts and the need for ongoing assistance.  Assistant Secretary Anne Richard and USAID Assistant Administrator Nancy Lindborg also wrote pieces for Huffington Post following their trip that published on February 11.  Assistant Secretary Richard focused her piece on a visit to a Syrian refugee's home in Mafraq, Jordan and Assistant Administrator Lindborg's piece discussed the effect of the Syrian crisis on women in particular and highlighted the need for access to deliver humanitarian aid.

Connecting with Youth, Promoting Education, and Highlighting the Role of Women: Under Secretary Sonenshine led the U.S. delegation to India's first international community college conference, delivered the keynote speech, and gave media interviews that reached millions of Indians.  She met with editors at the Times of India and expressed support for their "Aman ki Asha" (Hope for Peace) initiative to promote peace between Indians and Pakistanis.  Under Secretary Sonenshine also met with journalism students, bloggers, and student leaders to discuss how Indian youth view their future and leveraging the three Cs - community, contacts, and confidence - to strengthen the voice of women in the national discourse. 

Pakistan:  Starting a Dialogue with Intra-Faith Leaders:  On February 8, Ambassador Olson and Assistant Secretary Posner met with prominent religious leaders.  The Iqbal Institute for Research and Dialogue helped the Embassy bring together a diverse and prominent group of Shia and Sunni Deobandi and Ahle Hadith leaders to discuss promoting religious freedom and reducing sectarian tensions.  Some participants blamed the sectarian orientation of madrasas and their outdated curriculum; others pointed to the U.S. presence in Afghanistan and a perception that the U.S. "cherry-picks" religious leaders for engagement while ignoring diverse and influential leaders.  Despite disagreements, the participants expressed appreciation for the opportunity to interact and a desire for more regular and sustained dialogue.  Several press outlets covered the Embassy's press release about the closed-door session.

Assistant Secretary Stock Visit Highlights Education:  Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Assistant Secretary Ann Stock visited North South University in Dhaka, Bangladesh where she met students working with an American English Language Fellow in the Department of English, headed by a Fulbright Alumna and president of the Fulbright Alumni Association in Bangladesh.  Assistant Secretary Stock exchanged views with vice chancellors of leading universities as well as other educators and civil society and private sector representatives.  Discussion focused on bringing more Americans to Bangladeshi campuses, opportunities for study in the United States, and English-language learning.  At the Edward M. Kennedy (EMK) Center for Public Service and the Arts, Assistant Secretary Stock met over 80 members of Volunteer for Bangladesh who presented their new national campaign to raise awareness about violence against women and girls.  The group has held weekly planning sessions at the EMK Center during the past two months in response to high profile rape cases in India and Pakistan.  Assistant Secretary Stock also met with the first three Fulbright Public Policy Fellows in Bangladesh on professional assignments at host government ministries.

Afghanistan National Institute of Music's Triumphant Return: The young musicians from the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM) returned to Kabul from their U.S. tour on February 16.  Many thought it would be difficult to top the full house at the Kennedy Center, but the group's debut at Carnegie Hall proved otherwise. The Afghan musicians and their American counterparts from the Scarsdale New York High School orchestra played for a wildly enthusiastic audience in a sold-out hall; one reviewer wrote, "these sounds have never been heard before in New York... every movement was a surprise, and frequently a joy."  Before the concert, Mohammad Asif Nang, Afghan Deputy Education Minister, explained to the audience what playing Carnegie Hall meant to the young musicians and his country.  His people, he said, are "fed up with war and pray for peace."  He ended by saying, "long live peace, long live our friendship."  The concert ended with a rousing rendition of "Shakoko jan," an Afghan folk song, that had concertgoers throughout the packed hall clapping along.  The tour received unprecedented media coverage, including the Today show, CNN with Christiane Amanpour, CBS, ABC, and the front pages of the New York Times and Washington Post, as well as countless other articles. ANIM was also selected as the ABC's "Person of the Week." 

Mission Outreach Supports U.S. Tourism:

Visa Chief Joseph De Maria and Vice Consul Jason DeRosa participated in a 30-minute travel show on Radio Columbia.

Embassy San Jose's Consular, Commercial, and PublicAffairs sections showcased the United States as a tourist

destination at Costa Rica's first "Expoviaje" event

February 8-10.  The Public Affairs Section used traditional and social media outreach to entice dozens of Costa Ricans to attend Consular Section-led visa workshops at the expo.  

Clinton Curtis Band Performs in Nicaragua:  The Clinton Curtis Band toured Nicaragua February 5-12, 

The Clinton Curtis Band during an exclusive interview with El Nuevo Diario.

showcasing "American Roots Music" to 1,700 youth,including university students, alumni, and Englishlanguage learners, and the general public.  The band held concerts and master classes in Managua, Leon, Matagalpa, and Masatepe, and performed live on national television.  The visit received local television and print media coverage.

Ambassador Promotes Social Inclusion in Paraguay:  On February 17, nearly 30 children from an orphanage that Embassy Asunci�n employees support

Ambassador Thessin brings together local children and soccer players.

attended the first home game of a local soccer team with Ambassador and Mrs. Thessin.  The event demonstrated to a national television audience and the capacity stadium crowd that the United States values all members of society equally, and that sports unite people around the world regardless of racial, cultural, or linguistic backgrounds.  The Ambassador amplified this message through multiple radio and television interviews.