U.S. Embassy Officer visits CBA Cochabamba

With the objective of sharing perspectives with young students and to exchange ideas about several aspects of daily living in the United States, Embassy officer Malene Ginete gave a talk on “Life in the U.S.” to advanced English language and American culture students at the Centro Boliviano Americano in Cochabamba.

In this occasion, the talk was conducted at the CBA, with the participation of more than sixty students interested in learning about Americans’ traditions and thinking. The topics of the talk included family, freedom of conscience, cooking traditions, and others. The cordial and enriching discussion offered a great opportunity to make new friends and acquire new experiences.

Songs of My People

In celebration of the African-American History Month, a photo exhibit was inaugurated on February 21 at the exhibit room of Centro Boliviano Americano Cochabamba. This photo exhibit captures real-life experiences of African-Americans throughout the United States. This collection of photographs, printed as posters, was made available by the Traveling Exhibition Service of the Smithsonian Institution and the Corcoran Art Gallery. The exhibit will allow the people of Cochabamba to see and learn about an important part of the American history and culture.

The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Malene Ginete, representing the U.S. Embassy. The exhibit will be open until March 14 at the CBA Cochabamba.

U.S. Embassy Donates 18 Vehicles Valued at $450,000 to Bolivian Counternarcotics Programs

Expressing a firm commitment to continuing assistance to Bolivia, the U.S. Embassy, through its Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS), delivered today 18 pick-up trucks valued at $450,000 in support of Bolivia’s counter narcotics program. Ambassador Philip Goldberg reiterated that this donation is a sign that U.S. support to Bolivia remains unchanged.(more...)

Judicial process service center inaugurated in Cochabamba On March 18 U.S.

Ambassador Philip Goldberg, along with USAID/Bolivia Office of Democratic Development Deputy Director Jessica Zaman and Program Manager Álvaro Gálvez, participated in the inauguration of the Cochabamba Judicial Process Service Center for the Judicial Council and Cochabamba District Court.  The Center will centralize judicial communications with attorneys and the community at large, helping to make the provision of justice services to Bolivian citizens more accessible, efficient and transparent.  Among other things, this Center will virtually eliminate the possibility of corruption when serving notice, which until now has been a serious problem.  USG contribution toward the Center, which will handle a criminal caseload of some 114,000 judicial communications per year, is $33,500.

Integration: Engaging a New Vision

The Centro Boliviano Americano Santa Cruz and the United States Embassy are pleased to invite English teachers, librarians and the general public to the 10th ABLA Convention, taking place this year from July 14th – 17th, in Santa Cruz Bolivia.  The Association of Bi-National Centers of Latin America (ABLA) is an international organization that fosters mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people in Latin America and the Caribbean, through English teaching, educational and cultural programs.  The 10th Convention will promote the discussion of a new common Latin American vision for Bi-National Centers, seeking to take advantage of inter-institutional synergies, knowledge, capabilities and strengths in a global world. Thus, the Convention has been titled “Integration: Engaging a New Vision”. For more information visit the interactive ABLA 2008 Web Page: http://www.abla2008.com/

Book donation in Mizque, Cochabamba

In response to a request by the Municipality of Mizque, the U.S. Embassy visited this town to donate 200 literature books and 200 general interest publications in support of their Municipal Library. The direct beneficiaries of this donation –children, young students, and the town’s residents at large- were present at the donation ceremony. U.S. Embassy representative David Connell and Peace Corps volunteer Cooper Swanson also delivered notebooks, pens, balloons, and refreshments to the attending students.

Tito Vasquez Nina, Administrative Officer of the municipality thanked the U.S. Embassy for the donation on behalf of the municipal government and the residents of Mizque

Ambassador Goldberg visited the Centro Boliviano Americano Cochabamba and met with the “John F. Kennedy” scholarship students and their families. 

The ceremony took place on Tuesday, March 18, in the CBA Auditorium, and was attended by an estimated 120 people.  Ambassador Goldberg gave a speech on the importance of learning English and how pleased the US Embassy is by giving this opportunity to so many talented young people.  Students also gave remarks in Spanish and English thanking the U.S. Embassy and the CBA for this unique opportunity that will open many doors in their future.  The event was highlighted with the presence of Professor Jaime Escalante, a famous Bolivian teacher working in the United States in the 1960s who encouraged students from an inner city high school to go to college.  Mr. Escalante’s achievements were made famous in the popular Hollywood movie “Stand and Deliver”.

U.S. Embassy officer at CBA Cochabamba

David Connell represented the U.S. Embassy in Bolivia in a recent “Meet Someone Interesting” program, organized by the bi-national center Centro Boliviano Americano Cochabamba. With an attendance of over 80 English language students, Connell engaged in a talk on the general topic “A Conversation about the United States.” The students participating in this conversation asked insightful questions on American history, politics, economics, bilateral relations, and other issues. The U.S. Embassy officers attending this event were greatly impressed by the CBA’s young students’ excellent English language level.