Press Release

United States Supports Education in Mauritania
Continues Campaign to Distribute Books to Schools

Ambassador Charles H. Twining, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the United States in Mauritania, presided at two ceremonies on January 11 and 12, 2007 to mark the donation of books to several secondary schools in the wilayas (provinces) of Inchiri and Adrar.   The selected schools were the Lycée of Akjoujt, Ecole Akjoujt 1, Ecole Akjoujt 3, the Lycée of Atar, and Ecole Atar 6.   The donations included a collection of books in Arabic, French, and English covering subjects such as history, literature, science, economics and finance, computers, health as well as several others.

The contribution was part of the continuation of a vast campaign against illiteracy that the Embassy of the United States began September 8, 2006 on the occasion of International Literacy Day.  Several other schools in Nouakchott, Tidjikja, Tichitt, and Néma have also received donations from Embassy officials under the program.  A planned seventy-six schools in all thirteen regions of Mauritania will receive books under the literacy campaign, which the Embassy is conducting in close collaboration with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.

Nouakchott, January 12, 2007