July 5, 2012
Mongo - Ambassador Boulware delivers words of praise for the self-help efforts of this association that generates income and produces useful items for the handicapped (U.S. Embassy photo).
Mongo – Centre Khalwa. The first project site visited by the team was a Koranic school located about 15 km north of Mongo. Here Ambassador Boulware and the Guera Governor (left) listen to a marabout who teaches at the center (U.S. Embassy photo).
AMBASSADOR VISITS CENTRAL CHAD JUNE 8-10, 2012
Text : Les Mcbride
Taking advantage of the last few weeks of the dry season before rains return in quantity and make off-road travel a challenge which can quickly degenerate into the proverbial bridge too far, Ambassador Boulware led an Embassy team to central Chad the second week of June to familiarize himself with this part of the country and see first-hand some of the development and humanitarian projects that have been funded by the U.S. Government.
The team was comprised of the Ambassador and Mrs. Boulware, the ARSO, the USAID Program Manager, three journalists from a local newspaper and N’Djamena radio stations, and three motor-pool drivers. GSO did a superb job preparing and outfitting the three vehicles required for the trip. Overnight accommodations were provided in the towns of Mongo and Ati by the governors.
A total of six projects were visited (see photos), with the last stop on the itinerary being in the town of Yao located near Lake Fitri, Chad’s second largest lake. It is also the seat of the Boulala sultanate. It was at this stop in Yao that Ambassador Boulware inaugurated a newly-created community radio station with the Boulala Sultan, the Batha Governor and the president of the High Communications Council. The radio station was funded in 2011 from the USAID project, Peace through Development (Project Development II) and represents the third such inaugural event attended by Ambassador Boulware, the previous two having been in Bol (Lac) and Mondo Kanem).