US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT4443

UNCLAS KUWAIT 004443 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/PPD (CWHITTLESEY, DBENZE), NEA/PI 
(CBOURGEOUIS), ECA/A/L(JCONNERLEY) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, OEXC, OIIP, SCUL, XF, KU, Public Diplomacy 
SUBJECT: CHEVRON FUNDS ACCESS ENGLISH SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM 
 
 
1.  SUMMARY:  On October 2, 2005, AMIDEAST-Kuwait hosted a 
ceremony welcoming back 10 Kuwaiti boys and 10 Kuwaiti 
girls who spent four weeks in an intensive English-as-a- 
Second-Language summer camp in West Palm Beach, Florida. 
Chevron financed the Embassy-initiated program for 20 
Kuwaitis chosen from among 105 enrollees in last year's 
ACCESS program.  Fellow ACCESS participants and AMIDEAST 
staff selected the students who attended the summer camps. 
The Ambassador offered congratulatory remarks to the 
students and their parents, and recognized Chevron's 
exemplary community relations efforts.  END SUMMARY. 
 
Shining Leadership Examples 
--------------------------- 
 
2.  At a recent celebration recognizing Chevron's generous 
corporate gift that sent 20 ACCESS students to the U.S. 
this summer, the Embassy and Amideast welcomed returning 
students and lauded their success in the English language 
program.  The unique summer add-on experience took place 
July through August at the Global Language Institute (GLI) 
on Northwood University's campus.  The students, their 
families, and the chaperones gathered on October 2 to join 
the Embassy and Amideast in thanking Chevron, the Embassy's 
2005 nominee for the coveted Secretary of State's Award for 
Corporate Excellence, for sponsoring the summer intensive. 
The Ambassador also commended AMIDEAST Kuwait for 
administering the program.  This was the second year that 
Chevron sponsored the ESL camp and doubled their original 
commitment.  In the summer of 2004, when Public Affairs 
introduced the concept, Chevron funded 10 Kuwaiti boys to 
participate in the summer camp.  In recognition of their 
expanded role, the Ambassador said, "I would like to see 
more companies get involved in exchange programs such as 
this one and I congratulate Chevron for continuing to be a 
great supporter for these very productive exchanges." 
 
ACCESS Success - Is StudyUSA the Next Step? 
------------------------------------------- 
 
3.  Using their freshly polished English-language skills, 
the returning ACCESS students offered festive PowerPoint 
presentations about their experiences in the four-week 
program.  Their winning presentations included pictures of 
campers enjoying weekend excursions to Florida attractions 
and conducting daily tasks with their Latin American 
counterparts.  Participants, parents, and chaperones 
thanked the Embassy, Chevron, and AMIDEAST for making the 
camping experiences possible.  Participating students were 
enthusiastic about the possibility of building on their 
American experiences and the Ambassador encouraged them to 
pursue future studies in the U.S. 
 
Broadcasting the ACCESS Message 
------------------------------- 
 
4.  The reception welcoming home the students and 
recognizing Chevron's contribution to their success 
received widespread, positive press coverage.  The articles 
and illustrative pictures vividly portrayed the summer 
program's activities and launched recruitment for the next 
session of the ACCESS program in Kuwait.  The press 
coverage details follow: 
--Al-Seyassah, 10/4/05, p. 26, Arabic, 3/4 page, circ. 
45,000 
--Arab Times, 10/3/05, p. 6, English, picture with blurb, 
circ. 40,000 
--Kuwait Times, 10/4/05, p. 4, English, 1/4 of a page, 
circ. 35,000 
--Kuwait News Agency link: 
http://www.kuna.net.kw/Home/Story.aspx?Langua ge=en&DSNO=775 
411 
--Embassy Kuwait link: 
http://kuwait.usembassy.gov/pr_10022005.html 
 
Expanding on the Summer Camp Concept 
------------------------------------ 
 
5.  Public Affairs intends to continue working with Chevron 
and other U.S. firms based in Kuwait to encourage these 
types of exceptional partnerships that further the 
Mission's public diplomacy goals through educational 
exchanges. 
 
LEBARON