"Yap Robo Day" Robotics Competition in Micronesia

High school students in Yap, Micronesia held an inaugural robotics exhibition last week, ushering in a new era in math, science and engineering education on the remote Pacific Island.

Student teams from Yap Catholic High School and Yap SDA school designed and built robots from VEX robotics over the course of the 2011-12 school year. The kits were a gift from the Habele Outer Island Education Fund. The schools also received instructional materials from Habele as well as remote technical support from US students attending Chaminade Prep in California.

"Yap Robo Day" as it was called, was held at the Community Center in Colonia, Yap. Nearly 100 parents, students, educators and public officials came to watch and support the teams. Their robots were able to pick up plastic rings, carry these across the arena, and carefully position the rings onto small poles of different heights.

Thank You Letter from Pohnpei Student

A kind thank you letter was received this week from Shania, a Habele scholarship recipient in Pohnpei, Micronesia.

Shania is enrolled at Pohnpei Catholic School and earned an "A" average for the third quarter of this 2011-12 school year. She is in the seventh grade and is being raise by her loving grandparents, Moses and Gregoria Marpa.

Shania is one of twenty-four students attending nonpublic K-12 students across the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) this year through the support of Habele's tuition scholarship program. We wish her best of luck in the fourth quarter!

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Cultural Sites Visited by Yap Students

Approximately 30 students from St. Mary's Elementary School in Yap visited the canoe carving site in Colonia, home of the Waa'gey Canoe Building Project. Waa'gey, in partnership with the Habele Outer Island Education Fund, was established to promote cultural activities among the island's youth.

"Every generation is responsible to the next generation for the instruction of our local customs and traditions," said Larry Raigetal, the founder of the Waa'gey NGO and it's Canoe Building Project. 

"Never is that more apparent in the teaching and learning of these kinds of skills, which were acquired by our ancestors over thousands of years," continued Raigetal. "Without the transfer of this knowledge and these skills, our heritage, in this regard, could be lost in a single generation."

Waa'gey Canoe reaches "Yaibo"

These photos detail Waa'gey's latest progress. They've completed the "yaibo" stage of a large canoe. That is the point at which the canoe has really taken shape and is ready for finishing.

More photos and background information at www.Waagey.Tumblr.com

Traditional Canoe Carvers Registered To Vote

The Yap State election Commissioner, Laura T. Ngaden and her staff along with a staff from the National Election Office, paid a visit to the traditional canoe carvers and registered several young men to vote this week. They were also informed by the National Election Office staff to visit their office and obtain their voters registration identification cards.

During the visit, the Commissioner was given an introduction of the canoe carving project followed by a tour of the various canoe house activities, including traditional rope making and other typical canoe house chores.

“This is a great project that is not only important to the boys learning the skills but the state as a whole,” said Commissioner Ngaden. In support of the effort to preserve traditional skills, Ngaden told the group she is offering them a breadfruit tree for future carving. She also left copies of her office newsletter for the boys reading.

The project is being carried out by local NGO, Waa’gey, Inc., in collaboration with the young men from the island of Lamotrek. The group is working with a strong conviction that during these times of change, it is vital to retain their cultural identities by keeping cultural values and practices intact.

Betelnut Radio partners with Habele

Betelnut Radio, the most far-reaching Island Music radio station in the world, is helping to raise awareness about Habele.

The radio station broadcasts an eclectic variety of Pacific Island songs through a range of mobile and desktop applications. Listeners are able to tune in or log on from nearly anyplace on the globe to hear songs from the Pacific.

This month, the station has generously begun airing Public Service Announcements (PSAs) highlighting the work of Habele, a US-based charity that serves students in Micronesia.

Habele Honor Roll at Yap Catholic High

Four students who attend Yap Catholic High School with support from Habele K-12 tuition scholarships earned "Second Honors" certificates for their work in the third quarter.

"We're proud of their hard work and commitment to success in the classroom," explained Alex Sidles.