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Ambassador Mussomeli and Deputy Governor Prak Doeun cut the ribbon on Cambodia’s newest American Corner.
Cambodia’s Third American Corner Opens in Battambang
BodyUniversity of Management and Economics, Battambang
December 12, 2007
U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia Joseph A. Mussomeli and His Excellency Prak Doeun, Deputy Governor of Battambang, recently presided over the opening of Cambodia’s third American Corner, located at the University of Management and Economics (UME) in Battambang City. In attendance were UME President, Mr. Tun Pheakdey, and nearly 2000 students and teachers from UME and nearby high schools and the Regional Teacher Training Center (RTTC).
Sponsored jointly by the U.S. Embassy and UME, this American Corner will serve as an information outpost similar to a public library. The Corner's collection of books, magazines, audio-visual resources, Internet terminals, and computer-aided study materials will be open to all members of the Cambodian public. Additionally, the American Corner will host speakers, workshops and meetings, and serve as a venue for locally generated programs such as American film screenings, English programs, and educational advising. It is the Embassy's hope that this diverse collection of materials and programs will attract teachers, young learners, university students, government officials, and anyone else wishing to learn more about the United States and the world beyond Cambodia's borders.
In his remarks, Ambassador Mussomeli said, "In America, the word ‘corner’ has many positive connotations…The corner table at a restaurant is what you ask for when you want an intimate, special meal. The corner of the street is where you rendezvous with close friends. The corner stone is the foundation for any building that is going to last a long time. Turning a corner, means getting past a difficult period and having a fresh start—just like Cambodia is having now and just like relations between Cambodia and America…To be in someone’s corner, is to support them and help them." He went on to add, "I am confident that this American Corner will be a fun, friendly, and lively place that promotes dialogue and mutual understanding between Cambodians and Americans."
The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh sponsors two additional American Corners in Cambodia – one in Phnom Penh and one in Kampong Cham. The American Corner in Phnom Penh is one of the most successful in the region, boasting over 42,000 guest visits last year, mainly by high school and university students. The second American Corner, located in Kampong Cham, has been important for reaching out to minority groups such as the Cham population.
With nearly 2,000 students and a curriculum taught both in English and Khmer, UME has established itself as a leading educational institution in Battambang. UME is centrally located in Battambang city, directly across the street from one of the city’s largest high schools and is in close proximity to one of the country’s six RTTCs. Several of the newly sworn in Peace Corps Volunteers will be working in the Battambang area, including at the RTTC, and they will be able to draw upon the American Corner's resources to assist them in their efforts to strengthen the quality of English instruction in Battambang area high schools.
The Embassy would like to extend a special thank you to Peace Corps Volunteers Kristine and Mark Stilwell, who were instrumental in setting up the American Corner’s book collection and computer system.
