American corners

Highlights Bertoua American Corner Programs for April 2006

Title: Study in the United States

Date: April 3, 2006
Type: American Corner Bertoua Student Advising Outreach
MPP Goal: Mutual Understanding

Summary: The Educational Advising Center sponsored a program on study in the United States at the American Corner Bertoua in the East Province of Cameroon.  American Corner Bertoua invited students in their last two years of High School to participate. 

Results: This was the first time information on study opportunities in the U.S. was provided directly to students in the East Province.  Over 25 students took notes, asked questions and sought clarification on the differences between the Cameroonian and U.S. education systems.  It also supported our MPP goal of mutual understanding and reaching out to the youth of Cameroon.  The program reached a wider audience through print and radio coverage.

Title: Celebration of Earth Day

Date: April 4, 2006
Type: American Corner Bertoua Earth Day Program
MPP Goal: Mutual Understanding

Summary: PAS Yaounde sponsored a program in celebration of Earth Day at the American Corner Bertoua, Cameroon.  This program coincided with Earth Day activities sponsored by PAS in the South East of Cameroon. Seventy five participant’s age 7 – 9 years of age completed an Earth Day Workbook and watched the film, “Fern Gully.”  The presentation was followed by a short discussion on what activities could be planned at their school and in their community followed by lunch.

Results: Excellent.  The workbook inspired thought and creativity.  The participating teachers were inspired to bring the program to their schools and community.  The program advanced our MPP goal of promoting environmental awareness and embraced a younger audience.  The program was covered by local print and radio media. 

Title:  East Provincial Capital Bertoua - Debate on Corruption

Date:  April 4, 2006
Type:  American Corner IRC Book Discussion
MPP Goal:  Democratic Systems and Practices

Summary: The Information Resource Center (IRC), under the American Corner program, organized a discussion of Robert Klitgaard’s “Combattre la corruption” (“Controlling Corruption,” ARS Paris) on April 4, 2006, in the eastern provincial capital of Bertoua.  The discussion brought together some 75 attendants, including high-level officials, such as the mayor, the sub-divisional officer, plus provincial religious leaders, businessmen, teachers, journalists and those from various other walks of life. A heated but convivial debate followed the book’s presentation by the principal of the local scientific high school.

Results: As corruption has been a major political issue in Cameroon over the past few months, the discussion of Klitgaard’s book gave the people of Bertoua a venue for civic and public debate on corruption. At the end of the exercise, the mayor of Bertoua lauded the U.S. Embassy for its initiative and pleaded for similar programs in the future to help his city become “the cultural Mecca” of the province.  National public radio, private provincial radio and regional print media reported on the event.

Title: Internet Training for Teachers of English as a Second Language (Date: April 6, 2006)

Type: American Corner Bertoua IRC Training Workshop
MPP Goal: Mutual Understanding

Summary: The Information Resource Center (IRC) organized a one-day Internet training workshop in Bertoua for eleven teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL). The Yaounde IRC Director introduced the eleven public and private, primary and secondary school teachers to Internet basics: search engines, mega-search engines and databases as well as specific on-line ESL resources for teachers, such as those offered by the Department of State Office of English Language Programs.

Results: The teachers participated with enthusiasm in the workshop and, on their own initiative, set up an additional session to put their knowledge into practice before training their provincial colleagues. All thanked the Embassy for the opportunity to learn how to better teach the Internet or, as a participant put it, the “tool of international dialogue.” The group hopes for renewed assistance with future self-run provincial training programs.