In order to encourage citizen participation in upcoming elections, the U.S. Embassies in Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Ivory Coast invited their YALI Network members to a joint DVC event led by lawyer, writer and consultant Lex Paulson. Mr. Paulson participated in Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign and teaches Political Theory at Science Po Paris. He discussed with the participants some strategies and resources they can employ to promote civic engagement. He encouraged them to motivate others to go to the polls and more importantly, to remain politically engaged after the elections. At the end of the DVC event hosted at Embassy Ouagadougou, the participants spoke with Ambassador Mushingi who had paid them a surprise visit.
