Ambassador Tulinabo Mushingi traveled to the Hauts-Bassins Region from February 10-12, 2016 as part of the American Road Show. He first stopped in Hounde, a city located 100 kilometers from Bobo-Dioulasso, where he met with the High Commissioner and her staff and local parliament members. Once in Bobo, Ambassador Mushingi met with New Dawn University English Club Members. The conversation focused on security, the student visa process, and the ongoing U.S. presidential campaign.
Day one of the Road Show ended with a “Grin” in Kolma, a district of Bobo-Dioulasso. The Grin is a group of young people who gather over tea and discuss current news and concerns. The Ambassador shared tea offered by the members of the Grin, and participants asked questions and addressed their concerns as youth. They discussed unemployment, governance, democracy, and regional security.
Day two of the Road Show opened with a courtesy call to the Secretary General of the Hauts-Bassins Governor’s Office and a meeting with students of the Polytechnic University of Bobo. Many students attended the meeting and asked questions including on how to get to America. Panel members, in addition to the Ambassador, included U.S. Embassy Vice Consul Nick Sesnak, Art Envoys Esther Baker and Olivier Tarpaga, Eric Ouedraogo from Nestle, Public Affairs Officer Brenda Soya, and Mr. Bama Armel, a military officer who has spent time in the United States. They all shared their U.S. experiences and exhorted students to work hard to reach their goals. The road show team visited the Gabriel Choulet Death School where Ambassador donated school supplies to the students.
The day ended with the Ambassador’s appearance at the In-Out Dance Festival sponsored by the Embassy in which he gave a speech highlighting the use of culture to bring peace and unite people. On the way back to Ouagadougou, the Road Show team stopped in Boromo to visit the Nubian Vault Association and Hotel.
