The U.S. Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, James C. Swan, inaugurated the American Space in Goma, Nord Kivu province on Wednesday, March 23, 2016 in partnership with La Maison des Jeunes. Ambassador Swan and Father Wilvin Alberto Rodriguez officially signed the Memorandum of Understanding and cut the ribbon to open the American Shelf. An audience of over 100 people attended the ceremony.
The opening of this American Space was greeted enthusiastically by Goma youth and journalists who are eager to use the resources. The American Space offers books, DVDs and American films, a TV monitor and other resources. The American Space is free to all users and is open to the public.
In his inaugural speech, Ambassador Swan emphasized that the American Space is a place that will reinforce relationships between the United States and the Democratic Republic of the Congo by providing the people of Goma an opportunity to know and understand the United States.
There are eight American Spaces in D.R. Congo, including the American Corner at the Protestant University of Congo (UPC), the American Corner Limete, the American Shelf at the University of Kisangani, the American Shelf at Kisangani Teaching College (ISP), and the American Shelves at Lubumbashi and Matadi.
Accompanying Ambassador Swan were Embassy Cultural Affairs Officer Jessica Chesbro and Eastern Congo Unit Chief James Liddle.
