Public Awareness Efforts

Throughout the AGSP, there have been public awareness efforts and events. USAID missions, USAID/DC, and Embassies have been instrumental in assisting with and often taking the lead in coordinating these efforts. These events are generally hosted by in-country US government representatives, and often count on the presence of officials from Washington, such as First Lady and the president-appointed Chief of the Africa Education Initiative, Dr. Sarah Moten.

Benin

The AGSP Open Door event was held on June 22, 2006 with participation from various government, NGO and community stakeholders including the US Ambassador Wayne Neill, Beninese Ministry of Education representatives, scholars and mentors. The program opened with a welcome from the Director of the CAIES School for the Deaf. World Education's AGSP consultant, Sika Houngnihin, gave an overview of the program. Then the AGSP scholars took the stage to perform music as well as to give testimonies as to how the AGSP has impacted their lives. Following the scholars, Ambassador Neill gave a speech and handed out 475 English/French dictionaries to NGO partners APEM and GAJES for distribution to scholars in their region. The event closed with a speech by the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education's representative thanking the American government, and stressing that the Minister will do everything possible to help ensure a successful program.

The official program launch of AGSP in Benin took place in Séhoun in November 2006. Her Excellency, the Ambassador of USA to Benin, Ms Gayleatha Beatrice Brown presided over the event which was attended by AGSP scholars from the Zou Region. Among the attendees were the representatives of Zou-Collines, the mayor of Abomey, the Department Director for Primary and Secondary schools, Abomey education officials and local education heads, village heads from the communities where AGSP is operating, members of Mothers' Associations, Parents' Associations, mentors, and the AGSP consultant, Ms. Sika Houngnhin. The Ambassador and the government representative delivered speeches at the occasion. They also participated in the distribution of scholarship items the scholars.

The Gambia

On January 25, 2006 the Ambassador to The Gambia, Joseph D. Stafford, formally launched the AGSP at his residence. About 70 people attended the ceremony, including representatives from the government, development organizations, and the AGSP schools. Among the speakers were the Ambassador, The Gambia's Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Department of State for Education, Junkung Jobarteh, the Chairperson of FAWEGAM, Aissatou Kombeh-Njie, a teacher from an AGSP school, Lamin Jabang, and an AGSP scholar, Rohia Sonko. Though the first scholars were selected in October of 2005, the event marked the official launch of the scholarship program currently serving 700 girls in The Gambia.

Ambassador Stafford spoke of the AGSP in the context of AEI. Ambassador Stafford also donated books on America and life in America to the teachers, and gifts to the students. The launching was covered by major newspapers in the country, as well national television.

Mali

On September 16, 2006 Brian Bachman, US State Department, and Eric Linderburg, US Mali Embassy, visited Timbuktu. They met with regional World Education staff, the implementing NGO partner in the region (AMSS) representatives and a 6th grade scholar, Alhousna Ibrahim. The visit featured a speech given by the scholar on behalf of all her colleagues welcoming the US representatives and thanking the American government for providing them with the means to continue their schooling.

Nigeria

On January 18, 2006 the First Lady of the United States, visited the Model Secondary School Maitama in Abuja Municipal, Nigeria. The First Lady was greeted by the school headmaster, Mrs. Babagoni; Nigeria Universal Basic Education Coordinator, Pr. Tahir Gidado; World Education/AGSP Regional Coordinator, Lamine Sow, and a six-year old scholar, Jumoke.

The First Lady attended a biology class with two AGSP scholars, followed by a question and answer session with 20 AGSP scholars in a classroom. The visit was an opportunity for the First Lady to get a first-hand impression and testimony from the AGSP scholars in Nigeria. In fact, five girls stood up and described how AGSP is helping them achieve their educational goals. The session was facilitated by Hadjia Mariam Othman, AGSP project coordinator from the Federation of Muslim Women in Nigeria (FOMWAN), World Education's partner NGO in the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, and Nasarawa States of Nigeria. The First Lady reiterated the President's interest and commitment to ensuring that quality equitable basic education is provided to girls all around the world and how the AEI and AGSP are contributing to that goal.

On July 19, 2006 the USAID/Washington Chief of Education Division, Dr. Sarah Moten and some of her staff visited the Model Primary School Maitama in Abuja Municipal, Nigeria. Dr. Moten was greeted by the school director and her technical staff, World Education/AGSP Regional Coordinator, Lamine Sow, Nigeria consultant, Toyin Zakariya, and AGSP project coordinator from the Federation of Muslim Women in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Hadjia Mariam Othman. FOMWAN is World Education's partner NGO in the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Nasarawa, and Ogun States of Nigeria.

Dr. Moten met and interacted with nine scholars attending that school, followed by a question and answer session on AGSP perspectives. The visit was an opportunity for Dr. Moten to gain a first-hand impression and testimony from the AGSP scholars in Nigeria.

Sierra Leone

In February, 2006, the AGSP was launched in Bombali District, by the Deputy US Ambassador, James Stewart. Also present at the ceremony were USAID representative Edward Benya, AGSP local consultant Marie Jalloh, the Resident Minister for the North, traditional leaders, district leaders, representatives from other development organizations, Ministry of Education representative, religious leaders, representatives from the Sierra Leone Teachers Union, etc.

In his address, the Deputy Ambassador declared that education is a driving force and instrument for reducing poverty and inequality and promoting good health and is a basis for social well being and building democratic societies. He also mentioned that the US Government's commitment towards achieving educational goals includes improving equality in education through retention, reducing illiteracy and helping girls and women improve their lives, the lives of their families and the conditions of their communities and laying the foundations for economic growth and democratic development.

He asked parents to send their daughters to school to give them the opportunity to be educated, to make decisions about their futures and protect them from trafficking, sexual exploitation and HIV/AIDS. World Ed's AGSP consultant, Marie Jalloh, gave an overview of the program in Sierra Leone, and other dignitaries also gave statements about the importance of girls' education and expressed their appreciation to the US government for the program.

In November 2006, Dr. Sarah Moten, Chief of the Africa Education Initiative, visited Sierra Leone. During the visit, she and Christine Sheckler, USAID/Sierra Leone Program Manager, visited three districts benefiting from the Ambassadors' Girls' Scholarship Program. Dr. Moten had the opportunity to meet with implementing partners, local government representatives, teachers, parents and scholars. The visit also served for Dr. Moten to meet with key US government staff in Sierra Leone, including USAID/SL Program Manager, USAID Mission Director, and Ambassador Thomas Hull. Experiences such as these help strengthen the participatory strategic management of the program that USAID/Washington, USAID Missions and World Education carry out.