Charge d’Affaires Michael Scanlan Visits Pinsk and Motal’

Michael Scanlan addresses librarians and teachers in Pinsk

Over 80 teachers of English and library friends participated in the event of the U.S. Embassy’s donation of over 196 titles of books and DVDs to Foreign Literature Department  and opening of the “My America” travel photo exhibit on August 27, 2010 at Pinsk Central  City Public Library. “It is our hope that the photo exhibit and new resources are bringing new readers to the library and helping better learn about the United States, its people, culture, history, and language “- said CDA Michael Scanlan at the official ceremony.  The Head of the Cultural Department Mr. Lukashenko, the Library Director Ms. Bilyutavichene and one of the teachers from Pinsk school thanked the U.S. Embassy for inestimable contribution that will help the inhabitants of Pinsk and the region to enrich their knowledge about the United States, and the language.

Charge d’Affaires visited Motalskia Prysmaki Culinary Festival that brought together several thousands of local residents and guests in the village of Motal in Ivanovo District of Brest region.  In his welcoming remarks Michael Scanlan noted that he was glad to see how the population of Motal value their remarkable history and protect traditional culture and crafts. Preservation of the national heritage was the goal of the US Embassy Small Grants Program grant that included funding of the Motalskiya Prysmaki festival in 2009.  It was rewarding to see that the festival grew since then and received more attention both nationally and internationally.  This year two  projects promoting cross border cooperation that were financed by the US Agency for International Development were presented at the festival: the Belarusian–Polish cooking competition and a collection of ancient recipes.  At the festival Michael Scanlan talked to people and enjoyed their hospitality as well as tried culinary delights, stopped by the stands with local products and crafts and watched folk group performances.    

In Pinsk CDA met with activists of the Business Women Club South-West NGO and the Pinsk Regional Association of Wheelchair Users. Both NGOs have recently started US Embassy Small Grants Program funded projects. The meetings turned into lively discussions of the project events, previous and current NGO activities and plans for the future.  The participants expressed gratitude to the Embassy for support and marked the receptiveness of Pinsk authorities to the their problems and ideas. Everybody agreed that it is important for any society to make use of the genius and talents of all its members despite gender, race, sexual orientation or disabilities.