Ambassador McCulley Inaugurates First American Corner in Mali

Ambassador McCulley Inaugurates American Corner in Gao

    On May 10, 2007, Ambassador McCulley inaugurated the first American Corner in Mali.  Located at the teacher’s training institute (IFM) in the strategically important northern city of Gao, the American Corner features $20,000 in books and equipment further enhanced by furniture funded by the U.S. Department of Defense.  The result is an elegant and modern programming and study space for the public in Gao.  The inauguration, attended by the Governor of Gao and hundreds of other government officials, teachers, and students, was a real celebration of American-Malian friendship, including music, skits, speeches, and a film highlighting the work of Peace Corps volunteers in Mali. 

American Corners are partnerships between U.S. Embassies and host institutions, such as the Institut de Formation des Maitres in Gao, designed to provide access to current and reliable information about the United States.  The first American Corner was established in Russia in October 2000.  Since that time, close to 400 American Corners have blossomed around the world, from Malaysia to South Africa, from Brazil to Norway.   The American Corner “Gorongobu” in Gao is the first American Corner in Mali.