By Dan Sreebny, Guest Contributor
[WV Note: This contribution is in response to John Brown's post on the Youth Enrichment Program. PHK and PLS also wrote on that program. We welcome further discussion and more information on the YEP.]
Dear John,
A colleague recently sent me your August 22 column on Karen Hughes’ Youth Enrichment Program initiative (“Karen Hughes’ Youth Enrichment Camps: Indoctrination at an Early Age?). I read your comments with a sense of befuddlement, for clearly the experiences you were portraying were quite different from what I saw with our YEP projects in Turkey.
As an experienced public diplomacy officer, I’m sure you realize that successful programs are a partnership between Washington offices and our overseas posts. In the case of YEP, Washington provided the general outline (and the ever-important funding) – but it permitted posts to match design specific events which matched the local environment and bilateral relationship.
In Turkey, we did have a (very successful) English/sports camp – but we also had other programs that were developed with local partners. In Ankara, we brought basketball and swimming coaches to work with children and local counterparts in a summer program that reached hundreds of boys and girls from various economic and social backgrounds. We also partnered with the Turkish Basketball Federation to provide American coaches to their summer camp projects, and for a University of Delaware basketball tour that worked mostly with young girls across Turkey. I invite you to visit the Fighting Blue Hen’s trip blog to get the facts on one YEP program.
In your column you asked, “Why this emphasis on American sports at the camp,” referring to baseball and basketball. Actually, basketball is BIG in Turkey and many other nations – and our Turkish counterparts welcomed the opportunity to work with American coaches in basketball and swimming. But this was by no means a one-way street. All of the Americans who took part left with great appreciation for Turkey and the Turks they met during their programs.
You also suggested that Karen Hughes’ YEP programs are “separated from the reality of the societies surrounding them.” In the case of Turkey, at least, you’re simply wrong on this point – we often partnered with existing organizations and programs, to create joint efforts that worked well for all involved.
You asked whether there might be something “spookily totalitarian” about these programs. Perhaps you could direct this question to swimming coach Lee Willing, or the English-teachers who worked at the summer camp, or the University of Delaware coaches and athletes who came to Turkey. I highly doubt they would share your perspective towards the activities they did with hundreds of eager and enthusiastic Turkish youth across Turkey.
Finally, I’m sure you recall how certain public diplomacy audiences fall in and out of favor as US administrations come and go. A while ago, we devoted time, energy, and resource to reaching younger audiences – then we were told, “Ignore the youth and focus on the critical audience of opinion-leaders.” I, for one, always thought this either/or approach was a big mistake, and I am delighted that Karen Hughes is supporting new efforts to work with youngsters around the world. I hope you might agree.
Sincerely,
Dan Sreebny
Public Affairs Officer
Ankara, Turkey
[Dan Sreebny has been the Counselor for Public Affairs at the United States Embassy in Ankara, Turkey since August 1, 2006. Prior to that, he served four years as Minister Counselor for Public Affairs at the United States Embassy in London. Before London, he was Director of the Near Eastern Bureau's Office of Press and Public Diplomacy in the Department of State in Washington.]