tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283470812024-02-03T11:38:38.493-05:00HabeleHabele.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00687677551981447693noreply@blogger.comBlogger302125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-42390302407076102922020-01-14T13:06:00.000-05:002020-01-14T13:10:48.117-05:00Robotics training a first for students on Kosrae<a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php" name="fb_share" type="button">Share</a><br />
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High school students on the tiny Micronesian island of Kosrae are teaming up with experts to get hands-on experience with technologies of the future. Equipped with the latest in competitive robotics equipment, new robotics clubs at Kosrae High School are enjoying a mix of classroom instruction and hands on learning, exploring math and science concepts that run much of the modern world.<br />
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For many students across the Freely Associated States, access to advanced STEM instruction is extremely limited. The Habele Robo League provides a unique vehicle to Micronesian high schools looking to expand the technical preparedness of students. Kosrae recently joined the other three FSM states participating in the Robo League, thanks to Habele’s partnership with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs. Vice President Yosiwo George has been an outspoken supporter of expanding the Robo League to include students in his home state.<br />
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Building on the momentum of this training, clubs at Kosrae High School will press forward towards the island’s first ever Kosrae Robo Day. Robo Day is the culmination of a school year of robotics exploration, in which clubs build customized robots to compete in a series of predetermined challenges during a community exhibition. Across participating FSM states, these competitions provide students a venue for robust, friendly competition, as well as giving the community the opportunity to see learning come to life.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESiBcOn5Gy-N1m7tJNPVGFjSBCiONVrJ3-GJs0DgLuCNOZft2RLHm_ORWkpjXfpyLdiKEBsypaG96HoMoLrz86KeLO_G3m91df1pUZUTbCXH1Ub0UwOQBcxXkBfforKqSYTD1/s1600/82741112_10219488797468098_5180478862538047488_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="1600" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESiBcOn5Gy-N1m7tJNPVGFjSBCiONVrJ3-GJs0DgLuCNOZft2RLHm_ORWkpjXfpyLdiKEBsypaG96HoMoLrz86KeLO_G3m91df1pUZUTbCXH1Ub0UwOQBcxXkBfforKqSYTD1/s320/82741112_10219488797468098_5180478862538047488_o.jpg" width="320" /></a>“The students are really diving into the challenge of making modifications and improvements, designing for the tasks at hand, making the project their own, and working very well together,” says Amelia Weiss, Habele’s Director of STEM. “I just can’t wait to see what they come up with.”<br />
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The Habele Robotics League has collaborated with public and private schools across the FSM since 2012, beginning in Yap, expanding to Chuuk and Pohnpei States in 2018, and finally to Kosrae in 2019. In addition to the Robotics League, Habele provides tuition scholarships for students across the FSM, and provisions public school libraries.<br />
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Established by former Peace Corps volunteers, Habele is a US-based nonprofit, advancing educational access and accomplishment in Micronesian communities.<br />
<br />Habele.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00687677551981447693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-32878520330212575832019-12-19T14:56:00.001-05:002019-12-20T09:50:23.206-05:00 Habele Robotics League adds 23rd Micronesian High School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Madolenihmw High School has joined the Pohnpei Robo League, making it the 23rd high school in Micronesia to offer students the chance to design, build, and compete robots on their own, and in partnership with other high school teams.<br />
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Located in Pohnlangas, Madolenihmw High School (MHS) serves students in the central east of Pophnei island, to the east of Mount Nahna Laud and south of Mount Kapwuriso. NHS is also the high school closest to the ruins of Nan Madol, a series of megalithic monuments on nearly 100 artificial islets on a coral reef offshore.<br />
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<i>Nan Madol, a UNESCO World Heritage Site</i></div>
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The US nonprofit <a href="http://www.habele.org/" target="_blank">Habele</a> began creating high school robotics team in the
Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) in 2011. Since provisioning two
schools in Yap that year, the league has expanded to include public and
private schools across all four of the Micronesian states. <br />
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Schools
in Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae States now all operate their own
titular Robo Leagues, each of which culminates in a statewide public
competition at the end of the school year. Habele, with the support of
the Office of Insular Affairs, provides equipment, technical training,
and coordination, but the learning is entirely student-driven.<br />
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<i>Pohnpei Robo League leadership meeting at OLMCHS </i></div>
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“The Robo League offers students a strong grounding in problem solving” explained Habele’s founder Neil Mellen, after meeting with MHS Principal Humover Penias. “Students across the FSM, including those in more rural villages and on remote outer islands, have shown time and again robotics sparks excitement in science and math learning by making it practical and tangible.”<br />
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<i>Madolenihmw High School in Pohnpei</i></div>
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MHS joined the Pohnpei Robo League in early December, as leaders from both public and private high schools met in Kolonia, Pohnpei to coordinate their plans for the remainder of the school year. <br />
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Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School’s vice principal, Russell Figueras, facilitated the Pohnpei Robo League leadership meeting, with robotics staff leads from Pohnpei Catholic High School, Calvary Christian Academy, Pohnpei Islands Central High School, Nanpei Memorial High School, and Pohnpei SDA School joining in to share lessons learned and best practices developed over the 2018-19 school year.<br />
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<i> Robo Team students at Pohnpei SDA School</i></div>
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"The introduction of Robotics at OLMCHS, and consequently the Robo League, has ignited a lot of untapped skills of our students. The students were so amazed to find out how their childhood remote controlled toys work, and were so excited to know that they themselves, in their own hands, can build the same robots” explained Russell Figueras of Our Lady of Mercy.<br />
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“Thanks to Habele, Robotics has taught our students the value of teamwork, self-confidence, the need to follow precise instructions, etc. The benefits of Robotics to our students never stop." <br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php" name="fb_share" type="button">Share</a><script src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type="text/javascript"></script>Habele.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00687677551981447693noreply@blogger.comPohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia6.8541254 158.262382200000052.8180769000000003 153.09880820000004 10.8901739 163.42595620000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-33255974218418908292019-10-07T11:58:00.001-05:002019-10-07T11:58:45.112-05:00Micronesia's Habele Robo League expands into Kosrae
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<span style="font-family: "Avenir Book"; font-size: 10.0pt;">High
school students on the tiny Micronesian island of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosrae" target="_blank">Kosrae</a> will be building,
programming and competing their own advanced robots for the first time. Located
at the remote eastern end of the Federated States of Micronesia, this island of
less than seven thousand inhabitants is renowned for its pristine waters and
lush mountain landscape. </span><span style="font-family: "Avenir Book"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Avenir Book"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Avenir Book";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Avenir Book"; font-size: 10.0pt;">In
partnership with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular
Affairs, Habele is providing equipment, training and support for the formation
of Kosrae’s first-ever “Kosrae Robo League.” The <a href="https://habele.blogspot.com/2019/05/robo-day-big-win-for-students-in.html" target="_blank">Habele Robotics League</a> has
collaborated with public and private schools across the FSM since 2012,
beginning in Yap, and expanding to Chuuk and Pohnpei States in 2018. Now, high
school students on Kosrae will join their peers across the FSM in mastering
science and technology concepts in an innovative, hands-on way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Avenir Book"; font-size: 10.0pt;">In
remote communities with limited resources, opportunities for students to
meaningfully engage with applied science, technology, engineering and math are extremely
narrow, or nonexistent. By partnering with island educators and community
leaders, Habele helps expand local capacity for developing students with a rich
grounding in the technologies driving much of the modern economy. </span><span style="font-family: "Avenir Book"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Avenir Book"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Avenir Book";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Avenir Book"; font-size: 10.0pt;">“Experimenting
with ideas in a tangible way is a great complement to classroom instruction,” says
Christopher Johnson, a South Carolina teacher and Habele volunteer. “This
program engages students who might not think of themselves as ‘math and science’
types, and gets them on a path they never would have imagined.”</span><span style="font-family: "Avenir Book"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Avenir Book"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Avenir Book";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Avenir Book"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Across
Micronesia, every participating robotics club has freedom to develop and define
their own structure and schedule. Students are encouraged to experiment and
explore with the equipment, making the robots an expression of their club’s
personality and skills. This culminates in “Robo Day” exhibitions, where clubs
from schools in each state gather to compete in problem-solving matches, and
demonstrate newfound skills in front of the whole community.</span><span style="font-family: "Avenir Book"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Avenir Book"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Avenir Book";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Avenir Book"; font-size: 10.0pt;">“We see
students light up with excitement while they’re creating and problem solving
with complex equipment and concepts,” says Matthew Coleman, Habele’s Executive
Director. “Micronesia’s future engineers and technology experts are being
developed right here.” </span><span style="font-family: "Avenir Book"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Avenir Book"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Avenir Book";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Avenir Book"; font-size: 10.0pt;">In
addition to the Robotics League, Habele provides <a href="https://habele.blogspot.com/2018/08/habele-announces-2018-19-tuition.html" target="_blank">tuition scholarships</a> for
students across the FSM, and provisions public school libraries.</span><span style="font-family: "Gill Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Gill Sans";"></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Avenir Book"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Established by former
Peace Corps volunteers, <a href="http://www.habele.org/" target="_blank">Habele</a> is a US-based nonprofit, advancing educational
access and accomplishment in Micronesian communities</span>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php" name="fb_share" type="button">Share</a><script src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type="text/javascript"></script>Habele.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00687677551981447693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-4415758435925922682019-05-16T10:25:00.003-05:002019-05-16T10:38:15.707-05:00"Robo Day" Big Win for Students in Micronesia<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFtd8oh1AXT7JEGv6KA2_qz1uotb0fuNpTeNGn7275AKbjpuZDKvSDf-AtthBGlwkRja18GBHaJ_M2hOBhPCjBK2PCxew-7Gsqr-uXjMoD3SLcBYGhkApwrSnp2A8r_Yv2e1e/s1600/NanpeiWinnersPohnpei.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFtd8oh1AXT7JEGv6KA2_qz1uotb0fuNpTeNGn7275AKbjpuZDKvSDf-AtthBGlwkRja18GBHaJ_M2hOBhPCjBK2PCxew-7Gsqr-uXjMoD3SLcBYGhkApwrSnp2A8r_Yv2e1e/s320/NanpeiWinnersPohnpei.jpg" width="320" /></a>Robo Day 2019 is in the record books for students in Yap, Chuuk and Pohnpei States. After a year of training, planning, and strategizing, students from participating high schools in each of these states met to exhibit their skills in the spirit of friendly competition. For Chuuk and Pohnpei, Robo Day 2019 represented their first year of participation in the Habele Robo League. While Yap State has blazed a trail with robotics for over five years now, their Robo Day competition also saw new faces. Neighboring Islands Central High School (NICHS) from remote Woleai Atoll, and Yap International Christian School both fielded teams for the first time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5T-2-G5R6qw7OkzFD2mjG7tCP7npd3BD3Xo4DaoT2abKFWi5Dp10qOZ79kd4-7kGl4MMpYP3M1yi-ZSRpeyky48-lfFydt77Y1hVEg_sHCnx1W1YNtKImQPqr3Sa4z4_VGi0p/s1600/60362021_10217478260725936_4530908798964989952_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5T-2-G5R6qw7OkzFD2mjG7tCP7npd3BD3Xo4DaoT2abKFWi5Dp10qOZ79kd4-7kGl4MMpYP3M1yi-ZSRpeyky48-lfFydt77Y1hVEg_sHCnx1W1YNtKImQPqr3Sa4z4_VGi0p/s320/60362021_10217478260725936_4530908798964989952_o.jpg" width="320" /></a>Despite the recent introduction to robotics for the majority of participants, the level of engagement, innovation, and excitement is extremely high. Students have thrown themselves into the training- and into the spirit of competition - with energy that is a pleasure to watch. From state to state, these competitions showed real diversity of robot design and strategy. Schools are making the league their own, and personalizing their experience. It's wonderful to see. One of the most noticeable elements of all three Robo Day competitions is the clear partnership and support between the teams. Everyone participating wants to see their peers from other schools succeed. This was demonstrated in cheering for other teams during competition, lending tools and parts, and jumping in to lend a hand when another team needed technical support. The Yap Robo League deserves a word of commendation for the ownership shown by the students. Their Student Leadership Team was instrumental in planning out the details of Yap Robo Day, and actually running the event. These young people are clearly mastering more than robotics! Now that students in Chuuk and Pohnpei have a full year of Robo League under their belts, it will be exciting to see what they come up with in the next year. Based on their tremendous success in the pilot year of the program, great things are ahead.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgru6T_9eloSacRH1fGUMgZ3O7K28glLFswF5-YIspHnWRA93xofO4bgHYxWhGXCXm06VFI66ycd2ZQvJtP1KghUcIaRqcgMpGY2BDu2M8eUCZ2mnxtMC6qth33QejvRIqhWD/s1600/59229921_1319045594899878_462194092286148608_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgru6T_9eloSacRH1fGUMgZ3O7K28glLFswF5-YIspHnWRA93xofO4bgHYxWhGXCXm06VFI66ycd2ZQvJtP1KghUcIaRqcgMpGY2BDu2M8eUCZ2mnxtMC6qth33QejvRIqhWD/s320/59229921_1319045594899878_462194092286148608_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>These exceptional events would not take place without the tremendous amount of work and care invested by school administrators, teachers, coaches, departments of education and community partners. It is the hours put in behind the scenes by these fine folks that helps really bring an opportunity like the Robo League to life for the young people. After seeing the smiling faces of the students operating their robots, holding up their medals, or taking a "Champions" trophy home to their school, it is not a mystery why our partners work so hard to support the Robo Leagues.</div>
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On to the Robo Day Results!<br />
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<b>Yap State</b><br />
1st Place - Outer Islands High School<br />
2nd Place - Neighboring Islands Central High School<br />
3rd Place - Yap Catholic High School<br />
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<b>Chuuk State</b><br />
1st Place - Xavier High School<br />
2nd Place - Chuuk High School<br />
3rd Place - Saramen Chuuk Academy<br />
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<b>Pohnpei State</b><br />
1st Place - Nanpei Memorial High School<br />
2nd Place - Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School<br />
3rd Place - Ponphei Island Central School<br />
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We join with our partners in congratulating all the students who competed in Robo Day 2019. Each and every of them gave it their best work, and it was obvious to everyone in attendance.<br />
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As of now, Kosrae State remains the only state in the FSM not participating in the Habele Robo League. Our hope is to bring the same opportunities to students in Kosrae soon. <span class="s1">Established by former Peace Corps volunteers, Habele is a US-based
nonprofit, advancing educational access and accomplishment in
Micronesian communities. The Habele Robo League is made possible by a grant from the Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php" name="fb_share" type="button">Share</a><script src="https://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type="text/javascript"></script>MpMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05884174424821706344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-3196401402463023682019-02-06T15:27:00.004-05:002019-02-06T15:27:41.661-05:00Robotics League Grows Across MicronesiaFourteen new high schools across Yap, Chuuk and Pohnpei States have been equipped and trained to participate in the Western Pacific’s only high school robotics league. Throughout December of 2018, Habele Outer Island Education Fund provided technical instruction to staff and students from public and private high schools across these three states. The training workshops began in Pohnpei, and culminated in instructional sessions on the remote Woleai Atoll in Yap State. Woleai’s Neighboring Islands Central High School represents the most isolated partner school to join the robotics league, and rounds out the list of every high school across Yap State who will field a team for the 2019 Yap Robo Day.<span id="goog_1004198439"></span><br />
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“Most of the students we’re training have no experience with robotics,” says Amelia Weiss, Habele’s Director of STEM. “Even without background training, these young people catch on fast, and are going to do great things."<br />
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Team members design and build their own complex robots, learning important Science, Technology, Engineering and Math skills in a hands-on way. Over the course of the coming semester, clubs will prepare to exhibit their newfound skills in “Robo Day” events, which provide an outlet for friendly competition and community interaction. Independent Robo Day competitions will be held for participants in Pohnpei, Chuuk and Yap States.<br />
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""Each participating Pohnpei High Schools has formed their respective Robotics Clubs in their schools, and are all excited with the new program, says Russell Figueras, Vice Principal of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School. "Building their own robots was fun and easy way of understanding programming."<br />
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Formerly a program for high schools in Yap State, the Habele Robotics League expanded to include partners in Chuuk and Pohnpei with the help of a 2018 grant from the Office of Insular Affairs.<br />
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MpMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05884174424821706344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-66807557795777215512018-08-07T12:04:00.000-05:002019-02-06T15:22:14.764-05:00Habele Announces 2018-19 Tuition Scholarships<br />
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Eighteen students from across Micronesia will enroll in respected private schools this fall with the help of Habele tuition scholarships. Attendance at these schools dramatically increases the likelihood that these children - residents of some of the most remote communities on earth - will complete a K-12 education.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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Since 2006, Habele has partnered directly with families, schools, and local stakeholders to ensure that bright, hardworking students have access to the best education possible. These tuition scholarships are funded entirely by individuals with a deep commitment to children in underserved Micronesian communities.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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The students, whose families come from isolated islands and atolls throughout Yap and Chuuk States, have been awarded tuition assistance covering 75 percent of the cost of their 2018-19 enrollment. They will be attending top-ranked, independent K-12 schools on the islands of Yap, Chuuk and Pohnpei. Most will live with relatives or sponsors for the length of the school year.<br />
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The far-flung islands of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) are renowned for their natural beauty, as well as their strategic location in the crossroads of the Pacific. Extreme isolation and limited natural resources remain a struggle for the nation, despite decades of direct financial aid from the United States government. These huge sums have failed to translate into broad educational access<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>or measurable education success for most Micronesian students. In this void, Habele continues to demonstrate the real impact that comes through targeted investment with local buy-in.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">“Habele invests directly in students,” says Matt Coleman, Executive Director of Habele. “We take a lot of pride in watching them thrive academically, then graduate equipped to pursue higher education and give back to their communities.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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In addition to the funding tuition scholarships, Habele provisions public school libraries across the FSM, supports traditional skills instructional programs, and facilitates the only high-school robotics league in the Central Pacific.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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Established by former Peace Corps volunteers, Habele is a US-based nonprofit, advancing educational access and accomplishment in Micronesian communities.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
<br />MpMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05884174424821706344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-89915912637732017752018-05-22T10:42:00.000-05:002018-05-25T10:18:02.968-05:00High Tech Robots in Remote Micronesian Islands<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Student achievement and the US-Micronesian partnership were on display this week in Yap, as five high schools battled it out in an elimination style robotics competition.<br />
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<a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2018/05/yap-robo-day-tuesday-may-22.html" target="_blank">Yap Robo Day</a> was the culmination of a school year long <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2017/09/parents-educators-leaders-talk-robots.html#more" target="_blank">project</a> in which student led teams designed and built robots. The League provides students at remote island schools practical experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).<br />
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"Through the Yap Robo League, you the students have turned tiny scraps of metal and plastic into complicated robots that are able to complete complex tasks," said U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular and International Affairs <a href="https://www.doi.gov/oia/who-we-are/dwd-bio" target="_blank">Doug Domenech</a> in a written statement read to attendees. "You can apply the same principles as you continue through life and pursue your own ambitious goals for education and growth in the future." <br />
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The event was held at the Yap State Sports Complex and featured teams from Yap High School, Outer Islands High School, Yap Catholic High School, Yap SDA School, and Faith Christian Academy. Students, families, and the public gathered to watch timed matches in which robots raced to pick up colored donuts and place them on goal posts and in corner goals, or scramble to block other team’s robots attempting to do the same.<br />
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Both the Yap State Public Service Corporation (YSPSC) and the Pacific Missionary Airline (PMA) fielded corporate partner teams, comprised of staffers who served as teachers and mentors to the students over the course of the school year. Yap’s State Department of Education supported and prioritized the work throughout.<br />
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The Yap Robo League was first established in 2011 by <a href="http://www.habele.org/" target="_blank">Habele</a>, a US-based nonprofit which provided donated robotics kits to two high schools. In 2017 an investment from the Office of Insular Affairs allowed for expansion to a true statewide, student-driven, league.<br />
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After a heated series of multi-team qualification games and elimination battles, Yap Catholic High School’s team emerged as the winner, with Outer Islands High School earning a close second place.<br />
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A key theme woven throughout the event was the sustainability of the League as a mechanism both for fostering student learning and as a vehicle for unprecedented cooperation among schools, which has extended to sports and other efforts beyond robots. "I said it multiple times throughout the planning process, and it certainly remains true: getting the first year under our belts is the biggest challenge –now it is just a matter of replicating and improving," observed Michael Wiencek, Principal of <a href="http://www.ychs.net/" target="_blank">Yap Catholic School</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0LDd0e_W4dtOAXMSSlzjyB6cmyOgip_C6qfp02IvGLybHhaMiUHp8CraUb8L-qW2gK-o5d5kos6wTx9vQAPBzXEzXX6dSFpFiGY-OOy35jHpSvK0WzJDjmVTJtRfxLE58FTf/s1600/Habele+Yap+Robo+League+Micronesia+FSM+MAY+2018+31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0LDd0e_W4dtOAXMSSlzjyB6cmyOgip_C6qfp02IvGLybHhaMiUHp8CraUb8L-qW2gK-o5d5kos6wTx9vQAPBzXEzXX6dSFpFiGY-OOy35jHpSvK0WzJDjmVTJtRfxLE58FTf/s320/Habele+Yap+Robo+League+Micronesia+FSM+MAY+2018+31.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Part of the League’s success and key to its sustainability are the partnerships developed between students in Yap and schools in the US. Robotics teams at <a href="https://www.chaminade.org/" target="_blank">Chaminade College Preparatory School</a> in Los Angeles, California and <a href="http://www.southriverhigh.org/" target="_blank">South River High School</a> in Edgewater, Maryland in particular provided generous material donations and peer-to-peer technical assistance.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2rj6iOSryN1-v2POU5mhmj8SQvawaxnhuaAcUwdf_rG_JZyiriuujAihBBRuwsW0bbjVD9lGQjAH86I9MttylrT6aNbxo_pSPoEHsIsrqLLS_svtRxqmIVacQkFpNpLtXgqa/s1600/Habele+Yap+Robo+League+Micronesia+FSM+MAY+2018+21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2rj6iOSryN1-v2POU5mhmj8SQvawaxnhuaAcUwdf_rG_JZyiriuujAihBBRuwsW0bbjVD9lGQjAH86I9MttylrT6aNbxo_pSPoEHsIsrqLLS_svtRxqmIVacQkFpNpLtXgqa/s320/Habele+Yap+Robo+League+Micronesia+FSM+MAY+2018+21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Citing the decades long strategic partnership between the United States and Federated States of Micronesia, US Ambassador to the FSM <a href="https://fm.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador/" target="_blank">Robert Riley</a> observed "Robo Day has a special significance in this regard, as private Americans have traveled to Yap to work closely and one-on-one with the next generation on innovative and cutting-edge technology to help set the agenda for Yap’s future. Technology is critical to economic development and private sector development, which in turn is critical to the future of the FSM. Habele has been in the forefront of this effort, establishing capacity and providing peer-to-peer support as Yapese navigate their own path as individuals and communities."<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php" name="fb_share" type="button">Share</a><script src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type="text/javascript"></script>Habele.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00687677551981447693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-17343032155042191102018-05-04T08:20:00.000-05:002018-05-09T08:55:34.790-05:00Yap Robo Day Monday, May 21<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoQtSoGMNab8_Hk4JYcoow_yUr_8NvTq7jAruqVpUjlCetI6jgQ1kbRtHJXGrA72NtBQdp9OblE1BqsujoswyJ4ivSHMgjBIrSCCjoUWvmsU1NqDpsTow1Tlc7_V5oKshtRRi/s1600/Habele+Yap+Robo+Day+Micronesia+FSM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoQtSoGMNab8_Hk4JYcoow_yUr_8NvTq7jAruqVpUjlCetI6jgQ1kbRtHJXGrA72NtBQdp9OblE1BqsujoswyJ4ivSHMgjBIrSCCjoUWvmsU1NqDpsTow1Tlc7_V5oKshtRRi/s320/Habele+Yap+Robo+Day+Micronesia+FSM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Robots will battle on <strike>Tuesday, May 22nd</strike> <b>Monday, May 21st</b> at the Yap Sports Complex and the public is encouraged to attend.<br />
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“Yap Robo Day” starts at 11:00am. Student teams at five high schools have designed and built robots over the course of the year and these robots will compete in a series of elimination skirmishes to determine the statewide Yap Robo League <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2014/06/nimgil-yap-ychs-news-june-08-2014.html" target="_blank">Champion</a> for 2018.<br />
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US based nonprofit “<a href="http://www.habele.org/" target="_blank">Habele</a>” established the Robo League in <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2012/05/yap-robo-day-robotics-competition-in.html" target="_blank">2012</a>, providing <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2017/11/robotics-kits-arrive-in-yap-remote.html" target="_blank">materials</a>, <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2017/12/world-class-training-for-robotics.html" target="_blank">instruction</a>, and US partner schools to Yap Catholic High School and the Yap SDA School. The league was the first high school based robotics program in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).<br />
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<i>Habele trainer working with students at Yap SDA School.</i></blockquote>
Thanks to a grant from the <a href="https://www.doi.gov/oia" target="_blank">Office of Insular Affairs</a>, a long-standing proposal to expand the League was realized in the summer of 2017. Yap High School, Outer Islands High School, and Faith Christian Academy were invited to join the league and will be competing for their first time at Robo Day 2018.<br />
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In addition to three independent and two public high schools participating on May 21, there will be robotics teams from two corporate community partners.<br />
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Both the Yap State Public Service Corporation (<a href="http://www.yspsc.org/" target="_blank">YSPSC</a>) and the Pacific Missionary Airline (<a href="http://www.pmapacific.org/" target="_blank">PMA</a>) have built robots of their own. They’ve also worked with the school teams to guide and support the students’ work over the course of the year and created materials for the competition field.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1ktj-TP-uTlXyUx3tpmj2OsRmxmmzo7knQZAmExWB8JGpXRJyjR6lm1ognQkx7KgjsdGw3H0X1N-OXgx8ffC6CQ7AhU_EP6g36x2SXC10D-egYyCAHMf2LH9eKemKy1Ahh7-/s1600/Doug+Domenech+and+Nik+Pula+Photo+APR+2018+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="630" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1ktj-TP-uTlXyUx3tpmj2OsRmxmmzo7knQZAmExWB8JGpXRJyjR6lm1ognQkx7KgjsdGw3H0X1N-OXgx8ffC6CQ7AhU_EP6g36x2SXC10D-egYyCAHMf2LH9eKemKy1Ahh7-/s320/Doug+Domenech+and+Nik+Pula+Photo+APR+2018+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>“The Office of Insular Affairs is pleased to provide a grant towards this pilot Science, Technology, Engineering and Math learning project for schools on Yap and neighboring islands in the Federated States of Micronesia,” said the <b>Honorable Doug Domenech, </b>Assistant Secretary Insular and International Affairs</i></blockquote>
A team of three students from OIHS will fly in from Ulithi on May 18th, along with their sponsor, Marino Juanito Harteligiye, making the event a truly statewide competition.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hYtJ7JOxmhf5TfCp-uj5ff3Uuwr4_SsHUphFMgweDgG8x9ejHKUV-gad3Bo_XqirtwvEeuSbmL21eXvsa-I5n0WyxU00qAjOz2hggNyaK5rNh7YnOy45_irvdbdELUXdbM31/s1600/Yap+High+School+Habele+Robotics+League+Training+DEC+2017+52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hYtJ7JOxmhf5TfCp-uj5ff3Uuwr4_SsHUphFMgweDgG8x9ejHKUV-gad3Bo_XqirtwvEeuSbmL21eXvsa-I5n0WyxU00qAjOz2hggNyaK5rNh7YnOy45_irvdbdELUXdbM31/s320/Yap+High+School+Habele+Robotics+League+Training+DEC+2017+52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Robo Team Students from Yap High School working on their robots.</i></blockquote>
The official start time for Yap Robo Day is <strike>Tuesday, May 22nd</strike> <b>Monday, May 21st</b> at the Yap Sports Complex. The robotics teams will be there by 9:00 AM to complete final test runs and review the schedule of events for the day. <br />
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For further details contact Michael Wiencek, YCHS Principal.<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php" name="fb_share" type="button">Share</a><script src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type="text/javascript"></script>Habele.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00687677551981447693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-19447463142300131792018-03-20T06:29:00.000-05:002018-03-20T06:29:02.973-05:00Island Students Striving Toward Robotics Competition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6kLsHXJNXkEJP8aKpS2OmmIMo1IqoWYmU9wdPMHJ5dVjEl3EsR_rvFXXqx4sih43MNuHLFFdM6Lg47rrhkYlNYCJpYsy-fg9mF9VGszXS2vQ4Z_YLWxscXwGA1zg5El-_piI/s1600/Yap+Robotics+Micronesia+Habele+Chaminade+i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="870" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6kLsHXJNXkEJP8aKpS2OmmIMo1IqoWYmU9wdPMHJ5dVjEl3EsR_rvFXXqx4sih43MNuHLFFdM6Lg47rrhkYlNYCJpYsy-fg9mF9VGszXS2vQ4Z_YLWxscXwGA1zg5El-_piI/s320/Yap+Robotics+Micronesia+Habele+Chaminade+i.jpg" width="173" /></a></div>
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Scale, isolation, and limited natural resources are major barriers to economic development in the many tiny islands of <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2015/04/micronesia-101-where-is-micronesia.html" target="_blank">Micronesia</a>.<br />
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The islands of this remote and <a href="https://thediplomat.com/2016/02/americas-micronesia-problem/" target="_blank">strategically situated</a> nation span a length nearly the distance from Los Angeles to New York across the remote Western Pacific<br />
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These challenges aren’t stopping hard ambitious students of the <a href="https://pacificnewscenter.com/robots-roll-forward-in-yap/" target="_blank">Yap Robo League</a>. Students from five of Yap State’s high schools have been working to design, build, and operate complex robots constructed from simple parts, and will showcase their achievement in a public competition and science fair this May.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlbwLvFMuiQqN900RHgldoNTp20O6ZUxBYEFelUFrGRwZnR2sLdQ2sSiXEzBxtmrI1FVsfYED6Q9Zr3FOAdXI234eUBzUC10aGrsk_EyGZeqP7eLXQl1qkzkN4LW6F_f0xsr-/s1600/Yap+Robotics+Micronesia+Habele+Chaminade+v.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlbwLvFMuiQqN900RHgldoNTp20O6ZUxBYEFelUFrGRwZnR2sLdQ2sSiXEzBxtmrI1FVsfYED6Q9Zr3FOAdXI234eUBzUC10aGrsk_EyGZeqP7eLXQl1qkzkN4LW6F_f0xsr-/s320/Yap+Robotics+Micronesia+Habele+Chaminade+v.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Yap Robo League was created by <a href="http://www.habele.org/" target="_blank">Habele</a>, a volunteer driven, US based nonprofit, with deep ties and cultural fluency across Micronesia, in 2011. Established in 2006 by former Peace Corps Volunteers, Habele is heavily reliant on cash and in-kind donations, as well as gifts of time and talent, from individual American citizens.<br />
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In 2017, the Office of Insular of Affairs, under the leadership of <b><a href="https://www.doi.gov/oia/who-we-are/dwd-bio" target="_blank">Douglas W. Domenech</a></b>, Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas, invested in a pilot project to <a href="http://www.kpress.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=805:robotics-kits-arrive-in-yap-island-of-stone-money&catid=8&Itemid=103" target="_blank">expand</a> the league, growing this hands-on STEM program from two independent high schools to five public and private high schools across Yap State.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPg5ULgvz6mM7jPwPb95XKfRSip-07TNCPzzKCn3JG4dP2F0FMRd_lB-u5QkItfLVQTwCsdUnxsbDxunAQN1yfekz0sYraVxQgYR9gPAHlmmGZXFFFTlpnXzPQqDI0NRYOWW0g/s1600/Yap+Robotics+Micronesia+Habele+Chaminade+x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="750" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPg5ULgvz6mM7jPwPb95XKfRSip-07TNCPzzKCn3JG4dP2F0FMRd_lB-u5QkItfLVQTwCsdUnxsbDxunAQN1yfekz0sYraVxQgYR9gPAHlmmGZXFFFTlpnXzPQqDI0NRYOWW0g/s320/Yap+Robotics+Micronesia+Habele+Chaminade+x.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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“Habele’s work is founded on the recognition that publicity, competition, and consequences empower and sustain long term ownership and capacity,” explained <a href="https://thediplomat.com/2017/12/americas-overlooked-pacific-island-partners/" target="_blank">Scott Leis</a>, a former Peace Corps Volunteer and Habele’s CEO.<br />
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Ameila Weiss, Director of Habele's STEM Department, provided instruction for students and school staff this winter at a series of workshops and trainings. Her visit followed extensive <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2017/09/parents-educators-leaders-talk-robots.html#more" target="_blank">community meetings</a> and consultations with local leaders and parents by Habele’s senior leadership at the start of the school year. The schools on Yap have also been paired with robotics teams at high schools in the United States, who’ve provided additional technical support as well generous in-kind donations of robotics parts.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPohJM9SUYpbmC2W66KbmS6Wcxn350hrGGKhhaO4KM5_Dj4e4wIEOG2G1IF51zfhP7UJaskmKt4pWz6tR0tvBm1uah-LhoztN0VR0L66DAHt3Sc7qaEryzj60vJbz7-DhUvhJ/s1600/Yap+Robotics+Micronesia+Habele+Chaminade+vii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1297" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPohJM9SUYpbmC2W66KbmS6Wcxn350hrGGKhhaO4KM5_Dj4e4wIEOG2G1IF51zfhP7UJaskmKt4pWz6tR0tvBm1uah-LhoztN0VR0L66DAHt3Sc7qaEryzj60vJbz7-DhUvhJ/s320/Yap+Robotics+Micronesia+Habele+Chaminade+vii.jpg" width="259" /></a></div>
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Now, Deborah Weiss of the Habele's Special Projects Section is working with Teresa Filepin, Director of Yap State's Department of Education, and the staff of all five participating high schools to plan the day long robotics exhibition in Colonia, scheduled for May 22, 2018.<br />
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“We are all tremendously excited about the progress made by each team,” explained Michael Wiencek, Principal of <a href="http://www.ychs.net/" target="_blank">Yap Catholic High School</a>, one of the original Yap Robo teams, and which fielded the all-star team <a href="http://www.pireport.org/articles/2017/03/30/yapese-high-school-robotics-team-head-international-competition-washington-dc" target="_blank">representing</a> the Federated States of Micronesia at the First Global international robotics olympics in Washington, DC last summer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOgzUmlHMZhSt4z_WIzbjCDcpUSdvNolslES6VqR9un8gvucL5NZFOWl5mwV64OhLJn3hp7jbxcgdWb185cMYo9ygiVXGRpInaxM8Qv3VOgMzh3NMcP-KMke9iy_dr_lXc2Wlk/s1600/Yap+Robotics+Micronesia+Habele+Chaminade+ix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1304" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOgzUmlHMZhSt4z_WIzbjCDcpUSdvNolslES6VqR9un8gvucL5NZFOWl5mwV64OhLJn3hp7jbxcgdWb185cMYo9ygiVXGRpInaxM8Qv3VOgMzh3NMcP-KMke9iy_dr_lXc2Wlk/s320/Yap+Robotics+Micronesia+Habele+Chaminade+ix.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
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As the students make progress toward their May 22 goal, incentives and rewards flow in, most recently in the form of 11 boxes of donated robotics parts mailed by the <a href="http://team1138.com/" target="_blank">Eagle Engineering</a> robotics team of Chaminade Prep, a Habele partner school in Los Angeles.<br />
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“Building on our relationship with the students of Yap, and empowering them with more materials to build robots, is tremendously satisfying,” said Tommy Smeltzer, coach of Eagle Engineering. “As Habele reminds us time and again, the strength of these remote island lays in their human capital, and for us that is a high yield investment.”<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php" name="fb_share" type="button">Share</a><script src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type="text/javascript"></script>Habele.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00687677551981447693noreply@blogger.comYap, Federated States of Micronesia9.5556503 138.13992329.3051073 137.8171997 9.8061933 138.4626467tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-33996328979847997822018-03-15T12:01:00.000-05:002018-03-15T12:01:12.827-05:00Micronesian Arts & Crafts on Display in Winter Park, Florida<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Twenty minutes northeast of Orlando, the <a href="http://polasek.org/" target="_blank">Albin Polasek Museum</a> in Winter Park Florida is hosting “Island Objects,” an exhibit of archaeological materials and historical items from the Pacific Islands of Micronesia.<br />
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It showcases traditional culture and illustrate the ways it has adapted to external societal forces through periods of Spanish, German, Japanese, and American occupation. The exhibit was curated by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/barbara.b.wavell" target="_blank">Barbara Wavell</a>, an anthropologist and author of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwiTqbis4-7ZAhVOwVkKHb1uAZoQFggpMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FArts-Crafts-Micronesia-Barbara-Wavell%2Fdp%2F1573063096&usg=AOvVaw1CTHE9eXR9a29RvpgccOXc" target="_blank">Arts & Crafts of Micronesia</a>.<br />
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A broad range of objects are represented in the exhibit including carved wooden figures and <a href="https://www.penn.museum/sites/expedition/the-palauan-storyboards/" target="_blank">storyboards</a>, intricately patterned fans, human statuary, navigation charts, and woven clothing and adornments.<br />
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The exhibit runs through April 15th and praised by an <i>Orland Sentinel</i> <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwjQ2dPY4-7ZAhUDrlkKHbctBT0QFggsMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.orlandosentinel.com%2Fentertainment%2Farts-and-theater%2Fthe-artistic-type%2Fos-et-mjp-polasek-micronesia-art-20180116-story.html&usg=AOvVaw2riPvkrgX5rnYjzpdalAm8" target="_blank">article</a> in January. The 400 objects on display are all part of Wavell’s personal collection, meticulously gathered and documented since 1975.<br />
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"The collection began in the 1970s when Wavell was a student at Rollins College, just a block or so down the road from the Polasek. An anthropology student, Wavell browsed flea markets in search of exotic carvings. </blockquote>
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During one such excursion, she encountered a squatting figure and a carved board that she couldn’t quite place. An investigation ensued, and she determined they were from Micronesia, scattered islands between Hawaii and the Philippines. </blockquote>
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Distinct from neighboring Polynesia and Melanesia, Micronesia includes the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands and Nauru — as well as the U.S. territories of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and Wake Island. </blockquote>
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'I realized there really wasn’t much information on the art of Micronesia,' says Wavell, who received her undergraduate degree from Rollins and a master’s degree in cultural anthropology from the State University of New York at Binghamton. 'It was very mysterious.'”</blockquote>
“A theme of this exhibition is adaptation,” says Wavell. “They persevered with this art — no matter who happened to be in charge.”<br />
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“It’s a beautiful and remarkable culture,” says the Polasek Museum's Rachel Frisby. “This exhibit has been wildly popular.”<br />
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In conjunction with her personal collecting, academic research, and publication of texts devoted to Micronesian topics, Wavell has long partnered with <a href="http://www.habele.org/" target="_blank">Habele</a>, a US-based nonprofit serving students throughout the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia.<br />
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Habele has <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2016/06/donations-enroute-woven-hand-fans-of.html" target="_blank">provided</a> <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2013/07/donated-cultural-historical-books.html" target="_blank">copies</a> of Wavell’s books to public libraries, schools, and universities in Micronesia, as well as to Micronesian diplomats and US officials working in the region. In 2016, Habele’s LEAD Scholar made a <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2016/06/habele-lead-scholar-meets-us-congressmen.html" target="_blank">presentation</a> of Wavell’s <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwjLot_A5u7ZAhWptlkKHSiiANQQFggvMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FWoven-Hand-Micronesia-Barbara-Wavell%2Fdp%2F1937952940&usg=AOvVaw2QRIjqbOzif2rgXh9AOnSS" target="_blank">Woven Hand Fans of Micronesia</a> to Amata Radewagen, the Delegate for the United States House of Representatives from American Samoa.<br />
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Wavell has also <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2017/05/micronesian-canoe-reassembly-highlights.html" target="_blank">provided</a> support and research for <a href="http://www.waagey.org/" target="_blank">Waa’gey</a>, a mentorship-based after school traditional skills program. Through hands on learning about carving and sailing, Waa'gey sustains centuries old traditions and imbues young men with a sense of accomplishment and belonging. A Habele spinoff, Waa'gey serves at-risk students in Yap and Chuuk States, Micronesia.<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php" name="fb_share" type="button">Share</a><script src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type="text/javascript"></script>Habele.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00687677551981447693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-39367693096055422352017-12-11T08:35:00.000-05:002017-12-11T08:35:01.753-05:00World-class training for Robotics Students in Yap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfddqP3eETirjhaaDb_aZMPp8xXVNCYewfI-MbjAMxIm6garCpfBzIFmCXaktKUZFCzfvFFDBxN2FbjyBSZtQj-CupWdAns0BWE2N8eh2bcTKcEajigx3yoooGKIXxpZtZKHj/s1600/Yap+SDA+Students+and+Teachers+at+Yap+Robo+League+Training.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="1260" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfddqP3eETirjhaaDb_aZMPp8xXVNCYewfI-MbjAMxIm6garCpfBzIFmCXaktKUZFCzfvFFDBxN2FbjyBSZtQj-CupWdAns0BWE2N8eh2bcTKcEajigx3yoooGKIXxpZtZKHj/s320/Yap+SDA+Students+and+Teachers+at+Yap+Robo+League+Training.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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(Colonia, Yap) Island students have been receiving high tech training in the design and construction of robots as the five high schools of the <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2017/09/parents-educators-leaders-talk-robots.html" target="_blank">Yap Robo League</a> work towards their goal of a statewide robotics competition next spring.<br />
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<a href="http://www.habele.org/" target="_blank">Habele’s</a> Director of STEM Programs, Amelia Weiss, first met with participating school leaders on Yap in early December. A series of workshops, site visits, and peer-to-peer trainings followed. Administrators, teachers, and select students from Yap High School, Outer Islands High School, Yap Catholic High School, Yap SDA School, and Faith Christian Academy participated throughout.<br />
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In addition to the five participating high schools, staff from the Yap State Public Service Corporation (<a href="http://yaputility.org/" target="_blank">YSPSC)</a> and Pacific Missionary Aviation (<a href="http://www.pmapacific.org/" target="_blank">PMA</a>) joined each of the training sessions.<br />
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These local industry partners are also building robots in preparation for the all Yap State “Robo Day” scheduled from May 22 of 2018. “It’s clear the students and teachers are highly motivated,” observed Weiss between meetings. “They have the drive, the equipment is coming in, and now we are providing the technical support to help them meet their goals”<br />
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Stateside, students and teachers at South River High School in Edgewater, Maryland learned about their peers on Yap. The <a href="https://www.powerhawks.org/" target="_blank">Power Hawks</a> Robotics Club hosted Habele’s President, Scott Leis, who spoke to the team about the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Yap State, Micronesian culture and the Compacts of <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2006/06/free-association.html" target="_blank">Free Association</a> (COFA), which formally link the Freely Associated States (FAS) to the US.<br />
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Leis also answered questions from students about how they could support the students at their partner school – Yap Public High School.<br />
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“The students at South River High School were eager to learn all about the Western Pacific,” explained Leis. “Few realized the geographical realities of life on a remote archipelago or that there is a long-standing, formal relationship between the FSM and US”.<br />
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On the US West Coast, students of the Eagle Engineering Robotics Club at Chaminade College Preparatory High School packed a dozen boxes of donated robotics parts. These will be sent to Yap Catholic High School, which will distribute the equipment to the five participating schools across Yap State.<br />
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This donation compliments scores of supplies that Habele has already sent this year, thanks to a Technical Assistance Program grant from the United States Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs (<a href="https://www.doi.gov/oia" target="_blank">OIA</a>).<br />
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“We are thrilled to be helping our peers in the Pacific,” said Coach Tommy Smeltzer of Eagle Engineering. Since 2009, we’ve been proud to <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2009/10/chaminade-prep-robotic-team-donate.html" target="_blank">support the teams</a> of the Yap Robo League through donations and technical support, and it is especially exciting to see the League continue to grow and thrive.”<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php" name="fb_share" type="button">Share</a><script src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type="text/javascript"></script>Habele.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00687677551981447693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-88758987576281940122017-11-30T11:14:00.000-05:002017-11-30T11:14:53.316-05:00Send books to students in Pohnpei!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Kolonia Elementary School needs your help!<br />
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The school’s library desperately needs books, both for students, as well as for their parents and other community members who enjoy reading.<br />
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Kolonia Elementary School (KES) is located in the heart of Kolonia Town, state capital of Phonpei, Micronesia. It serves 600 students, from Kindergarten through Eighth Grade, from all around Pohnpei –including the outer islands. It also enrolls children from the Philippines and Fiji living with their families on Pohnpei, making it one of the most diverse schools in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).<br />
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Along with the Principal, Vice Principal and Librarian, KES is served by over 40 dedicated teachers, educators, and regular volunteers. In the fall of 2017, Parent Teacher Association President Richard Porter reached out to <a href="http://www.habele.org/" target="_blank">Habele</a>, a US-based nonprofit that organizes financial and in-kind donations for students throughout the Freely Associated States.<br />
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Mr. Porter explained:<br />
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We are in the process of getting our school's library up and running for all students, but are seriously lacking books for the students…<br />KES Library would love to have books, especially those catering to Kindergarten through Eighth graders (fiction and non-fiction) to include reference books and magazines. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated!</blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLkYq6obB5TyMzS68FB_jpmZf3m_tzo-iC8gDUT7RTLlEDp0hH7TgkuymUv9smZZybGhdqsXPjL42kl7tLM-uQ_YL31cAyonITHJZXydQfxfKZXo-ZorPp0oJUl4lwxXWd0hGj/s1600/KES+Kolonia+Pohnpei+Micronesia+FSM+v.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLkYq6obB5TyMzS68FB_jpmZf3m_tzo-iC8gDUT7RTLlEDp0hH7TgkuymUv9smZZybGhdqsXPjL42kl7tLM-uQ_YL31cAyonITHJZXydQfxfKZXo-ZorPp0oJUl4lwxXWd0hGj/s320/KES+Kolonia+Pohnpei+Micronesia+FSM+v.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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You can help put books in the hands of these eager readers.<br />
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If you can <b>purchase or gather books</b>, please do so. Then provide Habele with the <i>weight</i>, <i>dimensions</i>, and a <i>rough packing list</i> of the closed box. Habele will mail you pre-paid postage, address labels, and customs paperwork in a sealed pouch to affix to the outside of the box. You can take the box to the US Post Office, bypassing the lines, and drop it off at the counter for its journey to Pohnpei.<br />
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If you’d prefer to <b>make a financial donation</b>, then Habele (a US-based IRS recognized nonprofit) will use the money to pay for the shipment of others’ book donations to the school.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvaWV476js4ZpGkEfEamumJdQbCU6Et_zmJoNbNMAfpqbBhPR2d7zAlsa8Be9VhVwtQ1ChohyphenhyphenXollKF7-cYhIkASu8wMzGiGfDOVuvvOON-bfbiJ5PibEe880JcPjlseCTKiQ/s1600/KES+Kolonia+Pohnpei+Micronesia+FSM+ii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvaWV476js4ZpGkEfEamumJdQbCU6Et_zmJoNbNMAfpqbBhPR2d7zAlsa8Be9VhVwtQ1ChohyphenhyphenXollKF7-cYhIkASu8wMzGiGfDOVuvvOON-bfbiJ5PibEe880JcPjlseCTKiQ/s320/KES+Kolonia+Pohnpei+Micronesia+FSM+ii.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Habele was established by former Peace Corps Volunteers –many of them classroom teachers and librarians- and other Americans looking to provide targeted support for students and schools across Micronesia. We are proud of our decade of work advancing educational opportunity through <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2017/07/private-scholarships-offer-micronesians.html" target="_blank">scholarships</a>, <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2016/07/lead-scholar-completes-us-fsm-cultural.html" target="_blank">exchanges</a>, <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2017/11/robotics-kits-arrive-in-yap-remote.html" target="_blank">robotics</a>, <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2013/01/master-toolsmith-teams-up-with.html" target="_blank">extracurricular</a> programs, and <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2015/12/read-tomil-t-shirt-fundraiser-for-yap.html" target="_blank">assistance to libraries</a> throughout the FAS.<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php" name="fb_share" type="button">Share</a><script src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type="text/javascript"></script>Habele.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00687677551981447693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-45043255183716537772017-11-15T13:07:00.002-05:002017-11-15T13:07:50.029-05:00Robotics Kits Arrive in Yap, Remote Island of Stone Money<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fMhAHCa6dpoyQDg7uoJRvOpj8zhtYtlnaXHSN6G0ULrdz7OzQYMu3ZXO-cbHQICoEOgmk6wlw9spI4VmpxcFPC738jloQgRb-TWOQoI5ya_irYenIxpkDfgoZJyH29qJtf7S/s1600/Yap+Catholic+High+School+students+opening+a+box+of+robotics+parts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fMhAHCa6dpoyQDg7uoJRvOpj8zhtYtlnaXHSN6G0ULrdz7OzQYMu3ZXO-cbHQICoEOgmk6wlw9spI4VmpxcFPC738jloQgRb-TWOQoI5ya_irYenIxpkDfgoZJyH29qJtf7S/s320/Yap+Catholic+High+School+students+opening+a+box+of+robotics+parts.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Yap Catholic High School Student opening their third box of robotics parts</i></div>
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Students on Micronesia's famously traditional Island of Stone Money have begun to design and assemble hi-tech programmable robots.<br />
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Robotics clubs at five high schools in Yap received VEX Classroom and Competition Mechatronics kits earlier this month, kicking off expansion of the popular <b>Yap Robo League</b>.<br />
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Using the raw parts, students will design, build, and code robots to compete in a statewide STEM exhibition and robotics competition in May. Yap’s Robo League was established in <a href="https://habele.blogspot.com/2011/12/schools-charities-team-up-for-robotics.html" target="_blank">2011</a> by the US-based nonprofit “<a href="http://www.habele.org/" target="_blank">Habele</a>,” and is now expanding across that state through a pilot grant award by the <a href="https://www.doi.gov/oia" target="_blank">Office of Insular Affairs</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7LpGZ4YhDBn8CzXuh00gsRs8VXOicZoxbH1PkNDUqV2JSOq1TbQeY_blJjB6gCtwUFOwxYGvuP6maNSjH6Efr-ChJxGB0oTFiUDmtRfDka1jUPdtsPA52ZynAOuFWGIoog70/s1600/Habele+Volunteer+Jimmy+Hogan+bringing+robotics+parts+to+the+post+office+in+Columbia+South+Carolina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7LpGZ4YhDBn8CzXuh00gsRs8VXOicZoxbH1PkNDUqV2JSOq1TbQeY_blJjB6gCtwUFOwxYGvuP6maNSjH6Efr-ChJxGB0oTFiUDmtRfDka1jUPdtsPA52ZynAOuFWGIoog70/s320/Habele+Volunteer+Jimmy+Hogan+bringing+robotics+parts+to+the+post+office+in+Columbia+South+Carolina.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Habele volunteers dropping off boxes at the post office in Columbia, South Carolina</i></div>
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“We were inspired by the <a href="https://habele.blogspot.com/2017/08/micronesia-students-proudly-compete-in.html" target="_blank">students from Yap</a> who represented the Federated States of Micronesia this summer at the 2017 FIRST Global Challenge - H2O FLOW! international robotics competition for high school students here in Washington, D.C.,” said OIA Director<b> Nik Pula</b>. “Through robotics, the Habele Outer Island Education Fund has been promoting the broadening of students’ experience in applying basic Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math skills in a positive, competitive, and hands-on way, and we are pleased to support <a href="https://habele.blogspot.com/2017/09/parents-educators-leaders-talk-robots.html" target="_blank">expansion</a> of this opportunity for more students in Yap,” continued Pula.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MpEx2cdcggb6WN0Lig4P08ihIUOp0TscT6rWaUhPe_kDyfwGsw36omjsYImUokTuuiubd0dtNac8zmv5Injn_JcTZcOhumqr0KUgqMu1bRnzFHvnN7w0Fmj133_hHUDG2uNU/s1600/Paul+Zimmer+Director+of+Faith+Christian+Academy+at+the+Yap+State+Post+Office.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MpEx2cdcggb6WN0Lig4P08ihIUOp0TscT6rWaUhPe_kDyfwGsw36omjsYImUokTuuiubd0dtNac8zmv5Injn_JcTZcOhumqr0KUgqMu1bRnzFHvnN7w0Fmj133_hHUDG2uNU/s320/Paul+Zimmer+Director+of+Faith+Christian+Academy+at+the+Yap+State+Post+Office.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Paul Zimmer, Director of Faith Christian Academy, at the Yap State Post Office</i></div>
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Pupils and teachers at <a href="http://www.ychs.net/" target="_blank">Yap Catholic High School</a> have taken the lead as peer mentors, supporting expansion of the Robotics Team at the Yap SDA School and the creation of new robotics clubs at Yap High School, Outer Island High School, and Faith Academy. Their efforts follow community meetings held by Habele in early Fall to gauge interest and develop plans for the league expansion.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OLV_VFo3WIJhQr9CNh23auxMwVvFKkneKzwRqqngEsrk_8OVRyOTBuxTH8-hhATc7S-BV7joVa8vcT03eJO2LGyqfziWr1-2lgbLFah7St1tRsnmRAG5593L7hnMtZy9DF5M/s1600/Students+at+Outer+Island+High+School+on+Ulithi+opening+boxes+of+robotics+parts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OLV_VFo3WIJhQr9CNh23auxMwVvFKkneKzwRqqngEsrk_8OVRyOTBuxTH8-hhATc7S-BV7joVa8vcT03eJO2LGyqfziWr1-2lgbLFah7St1tRsnmRAG5593L7hnMtZy9DF5M/s320/Students+at+Outer+Island+High+School+on+Ulithi+opening+boxes+of+robotics+parts.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<i>Students at the Outer Island High School on Ulithi opening boxes of robotics parts</i></div>
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“As the newest school on Yap we are thrilled part of this,” said <b>John Malimai</b>, Principal of <a href="http://pacifichelps.org/initiatives/3-faith-christian-academy" target="_blank">Faith Christian Academy</a> in Makiy. “The materials and technical training will expand the scope of our science instruction, and working with the other schools through the league helps us integrate and collaborate with other educators on island.”<br />
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While students at the five schools have begun tinkering, teachers and administrators are coordinating for a series of technical trainings in late 2017 and early 2018 to best guide their student’s work. The teams’ skills, developed over the coming months, will be showcased in a public five school robotics competition on May 22, 2018.<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php" name="fb_share" type="button">Share</a><script src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type="text/javascript"></script>Habele.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00687677551981447693noreply@blogger.comYap, Federated States of Micronesia9.5556503 138.13992329.3051073 137.8171997 9.8061933 138.4626467tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-33314245540976338542017-11-01T13:38:00.000-05:002017-11-01T13:38:18.211-05:00Yap Canoe Festival set for December 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnTDEox_opJZvEz4FgVjjk6KydG_cYxhsJvJkhuJJwSOlaTaJar0EO6M9QxssTd1BzvHKuQI0GRDj8IeNUskx5n2MK0R_VBfSG0H9YVQLMN4JtYK1IxK8VajkZEfk7uzHI7_U/s1600/File+Nov+01%252C+14+13+41.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnTDEox_opJZvEz4FgVjjk6KydG_cYxhsJvJkhuJJwSOlaTaJar0EO6M9QxssTd1BzvHKuQI0GRDj8IeNUskx5n2MK0R_VBfSG0H9YVQLMN4JtYK1IxK8VajkZEfk7uzHI7_U/s400/File+Nov+01%252C+14+13+41.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.waagey.org/" target="_blank">Waa'gey</a> Carvers begin work on a new canoe in Colonia, November 2017</i></div>
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Celebrating the rich heritage of traditional seafaring in the Pacific region of Micronesia, the Yap Visitors Bureau, in partnership with the <a href="http://www.visityap.com/things-to-do/traditional-navigation/" target="_blank">Yap Traditional Navigation Society</a>, has announced that the 8th annual Yap Canoe Festival will be held December 8 & 9, 2017 in Colonia.<br />
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The two days of festivities will take place at the Yap Living History Museum and will include a parade of traditional sailing canoes, dances, skills demonstrations and a marketplace offering food and handicrafts for sale.<br />
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Micronesian scholar and filmmaker <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM9jVC5x8K4" target="_blank">Dr. Eric Metzgar</a> will provide the keynote address and present his video, A Voyaging Odyssey, featuring highlights from the 2010 ocean voyages captained by Pwo Master Navigator Ali Haleyalur and Master Canoe Carver Chief Bruno Tharngan. The ocean crossings “rediscovered” the ancient, <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2016/05/historic-micronesian-canoes-make.html" target="_blank">traditional sea routes</a> between the islands of <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2013/02/massive-sailing-canoe-takes-shape-on.html" target="_blank">Lamotrek</a>, Guam, Yap and Palau.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6HVozYEjAJQKibrVSMYj2g2RUhxAwPYEdouCZ24Z05_njkAkGLzxfk3dQbEkMY2Iy-fp0fItlSoGUe2U6U6LoFvjkZv4U-4dhjrUkNWplslinVWSCpGhYgTJbA7OwQclmDvR/s1600/20170826_164039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6HVozYEjAJQKibrVSMYj2g2RUhxAwPYEdouCZ24Z05_njkAkGLzxfk3dQbEkMY2Iy-fp0fItlSoGUe2U6U6LoFvjkZv4U-4dhjrUkNWplslinVWSCpGhYgTJbA7OwQclmDvR/s320/20170826_164039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Young men from Yap's Outer Island work to rig a canoe sail. The traditional skills mentorship program of <a href="http://www.waagey.org/" target="_blank">Waa'gey</a> is supported by the US-based nonprofit <a href="http://www.habele.org/" target="_blank">Habele</a>.</i></div>
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“We are excited that Dr. Metzgar will be joining us along with Ali Haleyalur and Chief Tharngan,” said Don Evans, general manager of the <a href="http://www.visityap.com/" target="_blank">Yap Visitors Bureau</a>. “Dr. Metzgar has spent many years on the Outer Islands of Yap studying the art and history of traditional sailing and is a leading expert in the field.”<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRh4djHGSA3Qk9gn7uRyJQadSI05konoIaYWMbf-qVeQ_Zx0bcSWUdltYrDwMMtGlwaNC_5MSmVT4SuJRW0hSVtCItSSUm2kX9n87_hX77lcMr0GguoQveZno1KfOenxsreIH/s1600/20170829_154042+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRh4djHGSA3Qk9gn7uRyJQadSI05konoIaYWMbf-qVeQ_Zx0bcSWUdltYrDwMMtGlwaNC_5MSmVT4SuJRW0hSVtCItSSUm2kX9n87_hX77lcMr0GguoQveZno1KfOenxsreIH/s320/20170829_154042+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Voyaging canoe rides will be offered on Friday, December 8 followed that evening by the traditional dances of Yap that are renowned throughout the region.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeIhIK746PFCGRSVc7fAddfAdRjmbG9PBdlOpI9EtyeHg8EEQ9rW0R_vGujY2cax2Y8k6d0jDJUORH2TUXEvPmtdSv6OD8s6ujVJMoiHD18y4-2KQ5dO6aZ8NXuarSac14VOi/s1600/20170827_143539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeIhIK746PFCGRSVc7fAddfAdRjmbG9PBdlOpI9EtyeHg8EEQ9rW0R_vGujY2cax2Y8k6d0jDJUORH2TUXEvPmtdSv6OD8s6ujVJMoiHD18y4-2KQ5dO6aZ8NXuarSac14VOi/s400/20170827_143539.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<i>Carolinan canoes, or proa, are unique in their usage of a non-fixed mast.</i></div>
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On Saturday, December 9, a photographic exhibit of Yap's seafaring history along with other exhibits will be on display. Visitors will also have the rare opportunity to taste the traditional offertory, voyaging, and celebratory foods connected with successful long sea voyages.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXiVzJRJWNvYwWpVoooNI2E-6qslE3CPl_f5exaPm70sxQgWN7_pFMGZUG0uUxbAQm7MTcTKoWHEoa0pieNtbK8xYYnfctpnmU3gqW39HuR0qO7-gb0lfu6v9wlp3QUIwPKZD/s1600/image-0.02.01.c6e2b2dd8307e8841f24135d43a109f785d44b3614275f13b46aaef9ad3aec61-V.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="852" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXiVzJRJWNvYwWpVoooNI2E-6qslE3CPl_f5exaPm70sxQgWN7_pFMGZUG0uUxbAQm7MTcTKoWHEoa0pieNtbK8xYYnfctpnmU3gqW39HuR0qO7-gb0lfu6v9wlp3QUIwPKZD/s320/image-0.02.01.c6e2b2dd8307e8841f24135d43a109f785d44b3614275f13b46aaef9ad3aec61-V.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Voyagers from the Outer Island of Yap upon arrival in Guam.</i></div>
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“This year’s Canoe Festival promises to be a not-to-be-missed experience for not only canoeists but anyone interested in learning more about the seafaring history and traditions of these remote Pacific islands,” adds Evans.<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php" name="fb_share" type="button">Share</a><script src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type="text/javascript"></script>Habele.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00687677551981447693noreply@blogger.comYap, Federated States of Micronesia9.5556503 138.13992329.3051073 137.8171997 9.8061933 138.4626467tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-80886229734906781922017-09-29T08:23:00.000-05:002017-09-29T08:24:46.370-05:00Parents, Educators, & Leaders talk Robots in Yap<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXnnkxMdM4VDSELv_M5-W4WpvDCdJwStWUW69ofGi1u3Qq0ITKnJP3fFbvAxn4tN0tHQ99KoyhQK4IWJvzFdA-tJBqf6E5sqDpXh49HvE5-py7EY8NiLiDDMKRkpyqE9_ydLw/s1600/Yap+RoboSEP+2017+Federai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXnnkxMdM4VDSELv_M5-W4WpvDCdJwStWUW69ofGi1u3Qq0ITKnJP3fFbvAxn4tN0tHQ99KoyhQK4IWJvzFdA-tJBqf6E5sqDpXh49HvE5-py7EY8NiLiDDMKRkpyqE9_ydLw/s320/Yap+RoboSEP+2017+Federai.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Three students from Yap represented the Federated States of Micronesia at an <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2017/08/micronesia-students-proudly-compete-in.html" target="_blank">international robotics competition</a> in Washington DC this summer. One of nearly two hundred national and regional teams competing, the Micronesian students bested seasoned squads from developed nations including the United States and France.</div>
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Now there is talk of expanding the modest “<b>Yap Robo League</b>,” allowing more island students the opportunity to engage in robotics through high school based clubs and classes in the remote Western Pacific.</div>
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A series of meetings was held in Yap this September, bringing together traditional leaders, public servants, school leaders, as well as parents and communities members to discuss the possible expansion. </div>
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The US based nonprofit “<a href="http://www.habele.org/" target="_blank"><b>Habele</b></a>” first established the Robo League in 2012, providing materials, instruction, and US partner schools to Yap Catholic High School and the Yap SDA School.</div>
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Thanks to a grant from the <a href="https://www.doi.gov/oia" target="_blank"><b>Office of Insular Affairs</b></a>, a long-standing proposal to expand the League may now become a reality. The September meetings in Yap brought together families, educators, and community members to develop the details and chart a course that ensures ownership and sustainability.</div>
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"This is hands on learning. Robots bring together science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills, making it practical and exciting for students." explained <b>Teresa Filepin</b>, Director of Yap’s State Department of Education. “Including both public and private schools, as well the US partner schools, also sets up opportunities for partnerships beyond the robots.”</div>
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The plan will provide materials, instruction, and technical support for five schools: Yap High School, Outer Islands High School, Yap Catholic, Yap SDA, and Faith Christian. Teachers and students will receive peer-to-peer support from existing Robo League members on Yap, as well as partner robotics clubs in the United States.</div>
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“The Office of Insular Affairs is pleased to provide a grant towards this pilot Science, Technology, Engineering and Math learning project for schools on Yap and neighboring islands in the Federated States of Micronesia,” said The <b>Honorable Doug Domenech</b>, the recently confirmed Assistant Secretary of the Department of the Interior for Insular Areas. </div>
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“The Habele Robo League program not only promotes development of critical 21st century skills for Micronesian youth but also embodies the best aspects of the U.S.-FSM relationship, a partnership and collaboration with a shared history and common goals for the success of both their people."</div>
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As robotics parts kits make their way to Yap and schools staff began technical training in late September, a year-end statewide robotics championship was tentatively scheduled for mid May of 2018. </div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php" name="fb_share" type="button">Share</a><script src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type="text/javascript"></script>Habele.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00687677551981447693noreply@blogger.comYap, Federated States of Micronesia9.5556503 138.13992329.5556503 138.1399232 9.5556503 138.1399232tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-5377596563116054092017-08-01T12:12:00.000-05:002017-08-01T15:06:05.155-05:00Micronesia Students Proudly Compete in Robotics "Olympics"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VKXpignHpJs-k_6hMq9M4ESAXDSxU8mYv_BcN7_8F96kLuhDOMSGZtCwEEtDMqpQaomBvWbDuULK04ViybpHy2jlJLIifrHXqP3sKLy_nM7DYPxGD3TqLjkbfFH0OQF2DEI9/s1600/IMG_1057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VKXpignHpJs-k_6hMq9M4ESAXDSxU8mYv_BcN7_8F96kLuhDOMSGZtCwEEtDMqpQaomBvWbDuULK04ViybpHy2jlJLIifrHXqP3sKLy_nM7DYPxGD3TqLjkbfFH0OQF2DEI9/s320/IMG_1057.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Three students from Yap State proudly represented the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) at an international high school robotics <a href="http://first.global/" target="_blank">competition</a> this July in Washington DC.<br />
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Natasha Loochaz, John Steven Gilinug, and Francis Yarofalyango, comprised Team Micronesia, and joined students from over 150 other nations at the event.<br />
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Over several months each team designed, built, and programmed, their own complex robot based on the same simple parts kit, bringing the robots to the FIRST Global Challenge in DC for the matches and exhibition. In the arena, robots were organized into teams of three, battling to quickly gather and sort plastic balls representing clean water and contaminated water.<br />
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The team from Yap featured three graduating seniors from <a href="http://www.ychs.net/" target="_blank">Yap Catholic High School</a>, who earned the privilege to compete as an all-star team based on their performance in the Habele Yap <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2016/06/ychs-hosts-5th-annual-habele-robo-day.html" target="_blank">Robo League</a>.<br />
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In the first round of competition in DC, the FSM Team joined Argentina and Kuwait in a match against Bulgaria, Japan, and Grenada. Then Micronesia, allied with Vietnam and Australia, battled Cameroon, Chile, and Sudan. The day ended with a match pitting Micronesia, Brazil and Kosovo against China, Bermuda and Bahrain. For the day, the FSM went two for three.<br />
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Early the second day Micronesia partnered with Uzbekistan and Bangladesh in a match with Uruguay, Turkmenistan and Norway. They next teamed up with Ghana and Madagascar opposite Cameroon, Zambia and a pan South American team. Their final match reunited the Micronesians with Kuwait, along side Gabon, to compete with Japan, the Czech Republic, and a pan-Asian team.<br />
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The Habele Yap Robo League <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2011/12/schools-charities-team-up-for-robotics.html" target="_blank">began</a> in 2011 thanks to <a href="https://chaminadenews.org/tag/eagle-engineering/" target="_blank">Eagle Engineering</a>, the robotics team from Chaminade College Preparatory, a high school in California. Ameilia Weiss, then a Chaminade student, identified the opportunity for high school robotics on Yap during a dive trip to Micronesia. Back at school, she organized donations of robotics parts and instructional materials as a <a href="http://habele.org/" target="_blank">Habele</a> volunteer, getting the League up and running.<br />
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Early in 2017 the League was <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2017/04/micronesias-robotic-olympians-training.html" target="_blank">invited</a> to field a team at the FIRST Global event. Over a few short months, the students scrambled to design, assemble, and program, a competition worthy robot from a kit and system very different than the Vex Robotics parts with which they had worked in the past.<br />
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Lee Webber, former president and publisher of Guam’s Pacific Daily News, sounded the call in an April <a href="http://www.guampdn.com/story/opinion/columnists/2017/04/18/webber-help-yap-go-robotics-competition/100628278/" target="_blank">column</a> about the team’s goal to compete in DC, inviting readers across the region to donate toward the costs of provisioning, training, and sending the students.<br />
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In addition to several hundred individual donations made by US and FSM citizens through a Habele <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/YapRobo" target="_blank">Go Fund Me </a>webpage, generous corporate support was provided by Tim Waters & Associates, the JoDoCo Group, the <a href="https://www.matson.com/foundation/" target="_blank">Matson Foundation,</a> College of Micronesia, Blue Sky Traders, and United Airlines.<br />
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Senators Isaac V. Figir and Joseph Urusemal of the <a href="https://cfsmyapdel.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Yap Congressional Delegation</a> made supporting the students a high priority for the Congress of Micronesia. A pair of targeted appropriations was smartly shepherded through the complex federal legislative process to quickly ensure the Team could make it to DC.<br />
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Over the course of the FIRST Global event, Team Micronesia earned six match points and 347 competition points. Their final ranking (131st of 163 teams) put them well ahead of more resourced teams from developed nations with widespread robotics, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.<br />
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The Micronesia team, and their mentor Gilippin Pongliyab, also met with FSM officials in DC, including Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr. James A Naich as well as former Peace Corps Volunteers who served in the Islands and Micronesian citizens living in and around DC.<br />
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in addition to the high stakes competitions, Natasha, John, and Francis, participated in elaborate Olympic style opening and closing ceremonies, proudly carrying the four-stared flag of Micronesia. They also networked at workshops, forums, and team building activities with student teams from around the globe.<br />
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"The experience was a great one," said Francis Yarofalyango, known to his Team Micronesia peers as “Cisco.” "Participating in the competition was inspiring, especially seeing so many young people pursuing the same goals as I am. Robotics is not only fun but it helps me connect to other people around the world."###<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php" name="fb_share" type="button">Share</a><script src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type="text/javascript"></script>Habele.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00687677551981447693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-36024008415927181132017-07-13T07:41:00.000-05:002017-07-14T07:06:49.666-05:00Private Scholarships Offer Micronesians Access to Opportunity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpKalVpghhV_vbmS2ie6GEO8R6AE24pKwbEmBqBBAhYo41yowpQNP8j2PND3BpfZ8g8rGJp2kjANMq76SfMXN7BmsFrCVpt4Aon-WEIDMIl6zS47Yf_DjD-_sU5PFx2KVq4NN/s1600/Habele+Scholarships+2017+18+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="School Choice Freely Associated States Micronesia Marshall Palau" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1395" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpKalVpghhV_vbmS2ie6GEO8R6AE24pKwbEmBqBBAhYo41yowpQNP8j2PND3BpfZ8g8rGJp2kjANMq76SfMXN7BmsFrCVpt4Aon-WEIDMIl6zS47Yf_DjD-_sU5PFx2KVq4NN/s320/Habele+Scholarships+2017+18+Collage.jpg" title="Habele Tuition Scholarships Micronesia FSM" width="279" /></a></div>
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(Colonia, Yap) A dozen Micronesian students are headed to prestigious private schools this fall, thanks to <a href="http://www.habele.org/" target="_blank">Habele</a> K-12 tuition scholarships. These students will attend the independent school of their family’s choosing.<br />
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Described as “an investment in human capital,” these grants are funded by donations from former Peace Corps Volunteers, tourists, and other Americans with a personal connection to Micronesia.<br />
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Local ownership and sustainability are emphasized throughout the scholarship process by incorporating competition, incentives, and publicity. Habele is an all-volunteer charity based in South Carolina, and relies on private contributions to fund its scholarship programs. Since 2006, Habele has provided nearly $75,000 in targeted tuition assistance for Micronesian students.<br />
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Many of the scholars’ families come from isolated islands and atolls spanning Yap and Chuck States. They have been awarded tuition assistance covering 50 to 100 percent of their 2017-18 tuition and fees. These students will attend independent K12 schools on the State Capital islands of Yap, Chuuk and Pohnpei that have among the highest completion rates, test scores, and post-secondary placements in the nation. Most students will be housed throughout the school year with relatives or host families.<br />
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The beautiful –and strategically located- islands of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) struggle with isolation and limited natural resources. Comprised of many small islands, languages, and ethnic groups, the Federation was organized in 1986 as an independent republic in free association with the United States. US aid sustains an economy dominated by the public sector. Those bilateral payments are set to expire in 2023.<br />
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Habele’s funding is always focused on individual students, not districts or schools. Each year, applications out-pace scholarship awards by nearly ten-to-one. Other Habele efforts include sending thousands of boxes of donated <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2016/02/books-supplies-reach-eauripik-micronesia.html" target="_blank">books</a> to public school libraries, providing equipment for school <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2013/09/habele-supporting-intramural-sports-on.html" target="_blank">sports</a> clubs and specialty <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2014/11/carving-tools-for-micronesian-culture.html" target="_blank">equipment</a> for innovative <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2017/03/from-stone-money-to-stem-olympians.html" target="_blank">extracurricular programs</a>.<br />
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Established by former Peace Corps volunteers, <a href="http://www.habele.org/" target="_blank">Habele’s</a> singular mission is the advancement educational access and accomplishment in Micronesian communities. "<i>For a decade now, ambitious Habele scholars have been making their families, teachers, and communities proud through incredible academic achievement</i>," noted a Habele <a href="http://habele.org/directors.asp" target="_blank">Director</a>. "<i>Extending ambitious students the opportunity to succeed is the simple part</i>."<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php" name="fb_share" type="button">Share</a><script src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type="text/javascript"></script>Habele.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00687677551981447693noreply@blogger.comYap, Federated States of Micronesia9.5556503 138.13992329.3051073 137.8171997 9.8061933 138.4626467tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-9523996622175451022017-05-23T19:33:00.000-05:002017-05-23T19:47:15.989-05:00Advanced Science, Robotics, Showcased by Island Students<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Students recount science studies at the high school STEM exhibition on Yap, Micronesia </i></div>
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Elaborate cultural dances and seafaring <a href="https://habele.blogspot.com/2017/03/historic-sail-showcases-micronesian.html" target="_blank">canoes</a> have made the Islands of Yap famous, but this month it was the ultra-advanced Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math skills of local students on display.</div>
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An annual competition and exhibition organized by <a href="http://www.ychs.net/" target="_blank">Yap Catholic High School</a> drew nearly 200 community members who came to watch and support 70 high school student participants.</div>
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Ambitious freshmen students showed off complicated robots designed, built, and refined, over the spring semester. First year students also presented science fair projects completed for their Earth Science course. Sophomores involved with the STEM and Robotics Club ran demonstrations which included sound wave experiments, and tests of strength utilizing complex force sensors. </div>
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Upper classman were not to be outdone. Juniors displayed science fair projects focused on issues directly pertinent to Yap including climate change, erosion, and seawater intrusion. Seniors explained circuitry design and supervised underclassmen’s demonstrations.</div>
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<i>Natasha Loochaz, John Steven Gilinug, and Francis Yarofalyango of FSM Robo Team in Yap. They are headed to the <a href="http://first.global/" target="_blank">FIRST Globa</a>l international competition in Washington DC. Front left is Mr. Larry Raigetal of <a href="http://www.waagey.org/" target="_blank">Waa'gey</a>.</i></div>
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The highlight was a presentation of the Yap Robo Team, <a href="https://habele.blogspot.com/2017/04/micronesias-robotic-olympians-training.html" target="_blank">headed to Washington</a>, DC to represent the entire Federated States of Micronesia at the FIRST Global Robotics Competition in mid-July. Three Yap Catholic seniors –all stars from <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2016/06/ychs-hosts-5th-annual-habele-robo-day.html" target="_blank">last year’s</a> multi school Robo Day competition- have designed, fabricated, and programed a robot to compete in this Olympic-based event. They’ll face stiff competition from over 160 different national teams at the three-day event.</div>
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“Every year we encourage the students to push the boundaries further and expand the STEM program even more. This year they absolutely blew it out of the water with their demonstrations and science projects,” explained Principal Michael Wiencek and Science Teacher Devi Gopal. “It is going to be hard to top this next year.”</div>
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Since 2011, the STEM and Robotics Program have been financially support by “<a href="http://www.habele.org/" target="_blank">Habele</a>,” a US-based nonprofit established by former Peace Corps Volunteers. This year, with the unprecedented opportunity -and expenses- of fielding a team for the FIRST Global Competition, individual, corporate, and public sector donors rallied behind the students. </div>
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Tim Waters & Associates, JoDoCo Group, Matson, College of Micronesia FSM, and Blue Sky Traders have all made generous contributions to equip, train, and send the team. <a href="https://cfsmyapdel.wordpress.com/your-representatives/" target="_blank">Yap’s Delegation</a> to the Congress of Micronesia also <span id="goog_1329684787"></span>secured<span id="goog_1329684788"></span> public support through a pair of federal appropriations. A further fifty-two American and Micronesian citizens made personal donations through an <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/YapRobo" target="_blank">online fundraising page</a>.</div>
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"We should all be proud of these kids, who’ve been at it since 2011," <a href="http://www.guampdn.com/story/opinion/columnists/2017/04/18/webber-help-yap-go-robotics-competition/100628278/" target="_blank">explained</a> regional newspaper publisher Lee Weber, in a column highlighting the tremendous technical, logistical, and financial obstacles tackled by Yap's Robo League in April. "This is a great opportunity for these young Micronesian students."</div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php" name="fb_share" type="button">Share</a><script src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type="text/javascript"></script>Habele.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00687677551981447693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-84406438616028443612017-05-22T08:26:00.000-05:002017-05-23T19:23:51.966-05:00Micronesian canoe reassembly highlights interwoven FSM-US ties<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PtHQZxYoS4DMi6TzRL2ON3qQ1fq0DFxsr-SsUacgJx2hcYdFTbGuEhzsdx3O6uLKZozr2VDFEAYyqKe7rCzTbLt1EQfKTWfoEJPqPz6MzNE0mQ2n1xnNYJlXDp6LoIg_SJj3/s1600/1+US+FSM+Micronesian+Friendship+Paddling+Canoe+Interwoven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PtHQZxYoS4DMi6TzRL2ON3qQ1fq0DFxsr-SsUacgJx2hcYdFTbGuEhzsdx3O6uLKZozr2VDFEAYyqKe7rCzTbLt1EQfKTWfoEJPqPz6MzNE0mQ2n1xnNYJlXDp6LoIg_SJj3/s400/1+US+FSM+Micronesian+Friendship+Paddling+Canoe+Interwoven.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i style="text-align: center;">Reprinted with permission from the <a href="http://www.kpress.info/" target="_blank">Kaselehlie Press</a></i><br />
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Micronesian citizens living in Florida, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, gathered in South Carolina in mid-May to reassemble a traditional paddling canoe. The boat was crafted in Yap and serves as a symbol of the interwoven history of the American and Micronesian Peoples.<br />
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Gift of this one-of-a-kind craft was prompted by support from private citizens across the United States –and in particular South Carolina– following Super Typhoon <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2015/05/habele-partners-deliver-crops-to-remote.html" target="_blank">Maysak</a>, a record-setting storm that ravaged the Micronesian States of Yap and Chuuk in 2015.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpspEI3AFikRfDcOcyRCP938yUB6HNSldTBZyUpNnK28yX418kKVh82cVqeJgvh38a8Jj6Ldvlf_QqrHBcVu-ie0wf17dPJ4Nq92bEvcScPaiLb77j4G0z61gaP7f6bJ7-0ra/s1600/6+US+FSM+Micronesian+Friendship+Paddling+Canoe+Interwoven.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpspEI3AFikRfDcOcyRCP938yUB6HNSldTBZyUpNnK28yX418kKVh82cVqeJgvh38a8Jj6Ldvlf_QqrHBcVu-ie0wf17dPJ4Nq92bEvcScPaiLb77j4G0z61gaP7f6bJ7-0ra/s400/6+US+FSM+Micronesian+Friendship+Paddling+Canoe+Interwoven.jpg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Canoe delivery was organized by “<a href="http://www.habele.org/" target="_blank">Habele</a>,” a South Carolina headquartered charity serving students across Micronesia. Habele had solicited, coordinated, and delivered relief supplies to pupils and educators in the wake of the storm. “<a href="http://www.waagey.org/" target="_blank">Waa’gey</a>,” a Yap-based community preservation organization, <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2015/11/micronesian-canoe-arrives-at-historic.html" target="_blank">crafted</a> the canoe, also working with Habele to identify Micronesians in the United States who could reassemble the craft once it reached Edisto Island, south of Charleston.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQf47EC8qq4WMAdKKFSCBH2oMVU5Lue9FGKzb_pJ11VV-t5sk9HqkItN9MMvAZCinfEaCOUq1NGYviONdahKVZ0M3Va8EsW_r7ku2sqx20C25cz8J94u06we9a6A6AGMCYAjj0/s1600/7+US+FSM+Micronesian+Friendship+Paddling+Canoe+Interwoven.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQf47EC8qq4WMAdKKFSCBH2oMVU5Lue9FGKzb_pJ11VV-t5sk9HqkItN9MMvAZCinfEaCOUq1NGYviONdahKVZ0M3Va8EsW_r7ku2sqx20C25cz8J94u06we9a6A6AGMCYAjj0/s400/7+US+FSM+Micronesian+Friendship+Paddling+Canoe+Interwoven.jpg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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"The canoe is the central object of Pacific Island cultures, and preserving the knowledge of its construction and use is essential to cultural preservation in the region,” explained <a href="http://www.hokulea.com/crewmember/doug-herman/" target="_blank">Douglas Herman</a>, Senior Geographer, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. “It is exciting to see this knowledge being shared and perpetuated.“ <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuqBe0Th6giRACoRBAksPc8dL7xHYgFM_OXvFnNg-tKgqoOS6L1avkl1uhXJz7s5-grNuCu39EB445eBUYf9dFC5B_6TzFyP3lSdjgymugSd4vWNcRbZGJjgdtIPnTY3MvOdc/s1600/8+US+FSM+Micronesian+Friendship+Paddling+Canoe+Interwoven.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuqBe0Th6giRACoRBAksPc8dL7xHYgFM_OXvFnNg-tKgqoOS6L1avkl1uhXJz7s5-grNuCu39EB445eBUYf9dFC5B_6TzFyP3lSdjgymugSd4vWNcRbZGJjgdtIPnTY3MvOdc/s400/8+US+FSM+Micronesian+Friendship+Paddling+Canoe+Interwoven.jpg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The westernmost state in Micronesia, the tiny islands of Yap are scattered across 500 miles of ocean, just south of the US Territory of Guam. An American protectorate following liberation in World War Two, Micronesia is now a sovereign nation in a special “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_of_Free_Association" target="_blank">Compact</a>” with the US. Through that status, many Micronesians come to study, work, and live, in the United States. Reassembly of the canoe offered some of these Islanders a chance to reconnect, and preserve their distinctive cultural skills.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdcKavi5geh-PY11QuFkwMJ_0fEc2AmuEvj_7ZBJGl5labsZsdARV97wyRGcXmO0BbLYVro0jY2XyI4gZytf2nLmGipCef3hfI52HBjnPiTvgOOIwVSIrdweawWW8uLJIMN22/s1600/9+US+FSM+Micronesian+Friendship+Paddling+Canoe+Interwoven.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdcKavi5geh-PY11QuFkwMJ_0fEc2AmuEvj_7ZBJGl5labsZsdARV97wyRGcXmO0BbLYVro0jY2XyI4gZytf2nLmGipCef3hfI52HBjnPiTvgOOIwVSIrdweawWW8uLJIMN22/s400/9+US+FSM+Micronesian+Friendship+Paddling+Canoe+Interwoven.jpg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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“The practice of building and sailing canoes is an essential component of Micronesian culture,” says Barbara Wavell, an anthropologist and author of “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Arts-Crafts-Micronesia-Barbara-Wavell/dp/1573063096" target="_blank">Arts & Crafts of Micronesia</a>.” “Canoe building requires many important skills including woodworking, lashing. These skills can also be applied to other cultural activities such as house construction and the making of bowls and tools. The Habele canoe project is a significant step in the promotion and preservation of this important cultural knowledge.”<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQhflzitpIOQkyQi235oNJkQh2Z6ENBZDN6RUc0NQXzhyQtP5XaqF2_SD8kelmeRK-IUI_up-_amdEr6gawAmczDgNnOPxC0b8aU98LWI4Sj0x6GQyhy5oYFpgMZGinDgXlyac/s1600/10+US+FSM+Micronesian+Friendship+Paddling+Canoe+Interwoven.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQhflzitpIOQkyQi235oNJkQh2Z6ENBZDN6RUc0NQXzhyQtP5XaqF2_SD8kelmeRK-IUI_up-_amdEr6gawAmczDgNnOPxC0b8aU98LWI4Sj0x6GQyhy5oYFpgMZGinDgXlyac/s400/10+US+FSM+Micronesian+Friendship+Paddling+Canoe+Interwoven.jpg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Among the Micronesians who gathered to reassemble the canoe using distinctive and complex lashing techniques were Camilius Epoulipiy, John Salmai, Marino Yarogimal, Ralph Tawerilig, Richard Yangitelmes, and Troy Hasugulut. American born relatives of Island descent joined as well as American volunteers.<br />
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The canoe’s point of origin and its new berth share historical ties with the Spanish Empire. In 1686, the Islands of Yap were sighted and first claimed as Spanish colony. That same year -over 7,000 miles away- Point of Pines Plantation on Edisto was <a href="https://charlestontimemachine.org/2015/11/05/unresolved-fury-the-1686-spanish-raid-on-edisto-island/" target="_blank">burned</a> by Spanish raiders from Florida hoping to expel English colonists from present day South Carolina.<br />
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“This canoe is authentic enough for museum display, and functional enough to take shrimping in South Carolina’s tidal creeks,” explained Larry Raigetal of Waa’gey. “It’s made from local materials, with traditional tools, and we are excited about our friends at Point of Pines putting it to good use.”<br />
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“I join our elders and young men of Waa'gey in extending our heart felt appreciation and congratulations to our partner, Habele and those who have helped to assemble the canoe,” continued Raigetal, the "Senap," or master carver. He was supervised by his late father and master canoe carver <a href="http://www.hawaiifreepress.com/ArticlesMain/tabid/56/ID/19049/Peter-Pakemai-Master-Canoe-Carver.aspx" target="_blank">Peter Pakemai</a> “This is a proud moment for us and we are humbled with the opportunity to play a small part of this achievement.” Organizers hope to formally commission the canoe in mid-June.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nthO9QFbaEaFHA5U1wR-KGIWNhpNFT5vppmf9025qTJ4Q2RKg_rll0RD_7JOdT1Xp0CPhpF0LpQ03GDCcw1AgNgHysQ2xc1EoAiQ33ZTMLAZw-btpY2z7aWYzZvLvYCNDlYj/s1600/14+US+FSM+Micronesian+Friendship+Paddling+Canoe+Interwoven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nthO9QFbaEaFHA5U1wR-KGIWNhpNFT5vppmf9025qTJ4Q2RKg_rll0RD_7JOdT1Xp0CPhpF0LpQ03GDCcw1AgNgHysQ2xc1EoAiQ33ZTMLAZw-btpY2z7aWYzZvLvYCNDlYj/s400/14+US+FSM+Micronesian+Friendship+Paddling+Canoe+Interwoven.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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“I was grateful to be a part of this,” said Cam Epoulipiy, who drove more than seven hours to attend. “To reconnect with Islanders living in the States, to practice and preserve important skills, and to see that others outside our Islands also value these things of such importance to us.”<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php" name="fb_share" type="button">Share</a><script src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type="text/javascript"></script>Habele.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00687677551981447693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-73378377885639705742017-04-24T13:53:00.000-05:002017-04-25T10:07:10.760-05:00Micronesia's Robotic Olympians Training, Fundraising<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pUR_VpV9xRPwH475T8UshPCPR6Wu0LqP9_SsISV_cAWztG46Yunx2rSTei3qsjOKlSb66iN4J2eDL1XvzR3gZ0Urxa_9_W8TI0vHPd_HzpzZ_NYO_elcl3DRevaZb819-per/s1600/20170419_153924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pUR_VpV9xRPwH475T8UshPCPR6Wu0LqP9_SsISV_cAWztG46Yunx2rSTei3qsjOKlSb66iN4J2eDL1XvzR3gZ0Urxa_9_W8TI0vHPd_HzpzZ_NYO_elcl3DRevaZb819-per/s400/20170419_153924.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Reprinted with permission from </i><a href="http://www.kpress.info/" target="_blank">Kaselehlie Press</a><i>, Volume 17, Issue 10</i><br />
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Micronesia's famously traditional Island of Stone Money is sending top students to a high tech global robotics competition this summer. The team, their teachers, and a network of supporters, are working hard to ensure they arrive on time, properly equipped, and prepared to compete.<br />
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<b style="text-align: center;">S</b><b style="text-align: center;">upport the team at <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/YapRobo">GoFundMe.com/YapRobo</a></b></div>
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The <a href="http://first.global/" target="_blank">FIRST Global Challenge</a> is a worldwide robotics competition scheduled for mid-July in Washington DC. Small student teams design, build, and compete complex robots from simple parts. Featuring over 150 teams from across the planet, it also serves as a forum for students to meet and partner with diverse international peers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpVzqNrD4SUa9AUIZ8Xsh1hFx45sgSWv_VQKV4GfNmx3_iaMA3LIEb3r0gwkq1w7_n1pTVUZTNERkuhJRu0y7r5zwNBjXDTRnoIYdSx-w7j9RZ8YCOxYlFK9Acec1-9VHLxZ5/s1600/20170419_153714+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpVzqNrD4SUa9AUIZ8Xsh1hFx45sgSWv_VQKV4GfNmx3_iaMA3LIEb3r0gwkq1w7_n1pTVUZTNERkuhJRu0y7r5zwNBjXDTRnoIYdSx-w7j9RZ8YCOxYlFK9Acec1-9VHLxZ5/s320/20170419_153714+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Photo: Robo League All-Stars John Steven, Natasha, and Cisco are headed to DC. </i><b>S</b><b>upport them online right now at <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/YapRobo">GoFundMe.com/YapRobo</a></b></div>
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"We are proud to have Micronesia attend FIRST Global -a beautiful country too often overlooked due to distance and size, and yet so eager to participate in our international event," exclaimed former Congressman and retired Admiral <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Sestak" target="_blank">Joe Sestak</a>, organizer the event "Famous for having used star navigation throughout the ages to travel across the Pacific, Micronesia is a vivid example that when there is a passion you are willing to feed and a thirst for knowledge you are eager to quench, there is no limit to the amazing things you can achieve."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6cXfnCRHWWno_xgWHMWBmoOWv6ZPFtJefUC0e_nvU8WTer2_UwbZQkoXEku7NLeQ1YtcrahnpuwoGxSHdSKd7xRGPXBZLEIrDDiALOLOe5-wRwhqiVUNGLBI2zTSIIB9rQax/s1600/34954-Habele-RoboticsTeam.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6cXfnCRHWWno_xgWHMWBmoOWv6ZPFtJefUC0e_nvU8WTer2_UwbZQkoXEku7NLeQ1YtcrahnpuwoGxSHdSKd7xRGPXBZLEIrDDiALOLOe5-wRwhqiVUNGLBI2zTSIIB9rQax/s320/34954-Habele-RoboticsTeam.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<i>Photo: T-shirts with the Robo League Mascot are being sold to raise money for the team.</i></div>
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The hard work of the Micronesian students in their technical preparations is matched only by the simultaneous efforts to raise money needed for their trip. For the competition the team must switch to an entirely new type of robot. Mastering the bots will take enormous commitment from students and teachers at Yap Catholic High School, winners of the <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2016/06/ychs-hosts-5th-annual-habele-robo-day.html" target="_blank">2016 Yap Robo Day</a> competition. It also requires four round trip airplane tickets from Yap to Washington DC.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSBUGvrOjieZgWIJEkMZWIrwWei7yOvbKH3uX0O_VeM40mqMtcYlqclbav3dvyhTrMtL2Wga3bRg-nUuQTA6abIGezAHEg2riEj98fx53Z1t8t6CXLv1N3zUHb_Fpn-g7r4hJ/s1600/16406483_1235850216451547_3145594277510123965_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSBUGvrOjieZgWIJEkMZWIrwWei7yOvbKH3uX0O_VeM40mqMtcYlqclbav3dvyhTrMtL2Wga3bRg-nUuQTA6abIGezAHEg2riEj98fx53Z1t8t6CXLv1N3zUHb_Fpn-g7r4hJ/s320/16406483_1235850216451547_3145594277510123965_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Photo: Winners of 2016 Robotics Day, YCHS Team before the competition. </i><b>S</b><b>upport them online right now at <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/YapRobo">GoFundMe.com/YapRobo</a></b></div>
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“Our students' innovation and creativity has blossomed so quickly through our STEM and Robotics Program in large part due to our limited resources, said Michael Wiencek, Principal of <a href="http://www.ychs.net/" target="_blank">Yap Catholic High School</a>. “My favorite part of every year is when new students are following the step-by-step guide to build a basic prototype and they ask ‘Mr. Wiencek, we don't have these parts. What do we do?’ To see their faces go from frustration, to contemplation, to excitement when I simply respond, ‘Get creative with what we have,’ will never get old.”</div>
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<i>Photo: Jose Escotto, Liz Twigg, Anisha Hindocha, and Jake of FIRST Global sporting their Yap Robo League shirts from Team Micronesia!</i></div>
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The sense of pride, accomplishment and ownership, is spreading from student and community members, to those who are helping to raise money and awareness. “We should be proud of these kids, who’ve been at it since 2011,” <a href="http://www.guampdn.com/story/opinion/columnists/2017/04/18/webber-help-yap-go-robotics-competition/100628278/" target="_blank">wrote Lee Weber</a>, former president and publisher of the Pacific Daily News on Guam. “And also proud of the league and their only current private non-government supporter, <a href="https://www.matson.com/foundation/" target="_blank">Matson</a>, and its monetary and equipment donations. </div>
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“This is a great opportunity for these young Micronesian students,” continued Weber. “Let's not allow students to shoulder this opportunity alone,” stressed Weber in his PDN editorial column, urging readers to pitch in. You can learn more about the team, the competition, and the fundraising to s<b style="text-align: center;">upport them online right now at <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/YapRobo">GoFundMe.com/YapRobo</a></b></div>
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Habele.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00687677551981447693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-12626635297248363082017-04-14T13:54:00.001-05:002017-04-14T13:54:22.262-05:00Condition Assessment of Micronesian Canoe To: Habele Outer Island Education Fund<br />
From: Geoffrey Chambers<br />
Date of Assessment: Friday, April 7, 2017 at 4:00 PM<br />
Location of Assessment: Edisto Island, South Carolina<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDo4V-kWwhA2D2G9a-QBD8PCk1QsuvmJeHiPtmBlRJ0xw8N7dAr9Dgp__rrvtWz65xV0JWb-3VYHx_hMu0y0z9CodL8ACCu8o_k_8W_TKklRYnUNPGJ5lxWpi4wIjTabbq3NfP/s1600/0407171546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDo4V-kWwhA2D2G9a-QBD8PCk1QsuvmJeHiPtmBlRJ0xw8N7dAr9Dgp__rrvtWz65xV0JWb-3VYHx_hMu0y0z9CodL8ACCu8o_k_8W_TKklRYnUNPGJ5lxWpi4wIjTabbq3NfP/s320/0407171546.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Abstract and Summary of Conclusions:<br />
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This is a condition assessment of a donated 11.5 foot long outrigger canoe built by Larry Raigetal and the <a href="http://www.waagey.org/" target="_blank">Waa'gey</a> Organization of Lamotrek Atoll. The canoe is a solid and well-made vessel of tropical hardwood construction. The canoe is currently in good condition and stored disassembled in a shipping crate. Minor repair of cosmetic outrigger grain separation should be considered prior to assembly. All parts are present for assembly and are structurally sound. The canoe and parts show no evidence of rot or significant deterioration and the paint is in good condition. Authentic coconut hair line was provided for lashing in the assembly of the canoe. Expert assistance is needed for assembly with the coconut hair line because there is insufficient coconut hair line to make mistakes in assembly and / or lashing.<br />
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Background and Objectives:<br />
<a href="http://www.habele.org/" target="_blank">Habele</a> is a non-profit organization benefiting education and cultural preservation in the outer islands of Micronesia. Habele and Burnie Maybank organized the importation of a Micronesian paddling canoe to the United States. The canoe is currently in a shipping container on Edisto Island.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQSFsJc6evoDf85flbO6FzIRy2hfmVJCJdiApmCDIor3vXLjvgZQAo1lXWU3l88iExlj2FMgvmQVGpRA75uUx4eCokL4_2Fg-zXC9A_lMG8zgRV6OVEjZfQmiG2Ka9jFl_TfQ/s1600/0407171605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQSFsJc6evoDf85flbO6FzIRy2hfmVJCJdiApmCDIor3vXLjvgZQAo1lXWU3l88iExlj2FMgvmQVGpRA75uUx4eCokL4_2Fg-zXC9A_lMG8zgRV6OVEjZfQmiG2Ka9jFl_TfQ/s320/0407171605.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Habele canoe was <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2015/11/micronesian-canoe-arrives-at-historic.html" target="_blank">shipped to Edisto Island</a> in the fall of 2015 and has been stored in a plywood shipping container at Edisto Island for approximately 18 months. The objective of this assessment is to determine the current condition of the canoe and assets, expertise and materials necessary to assemble the canoe.<br />
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<b>Basic Canoe description: </b><br />
This is a small paddling canoe with an outrigger. It does not have a sail rig. The canoe was built by Larry Raigetal of Lamotrek Atoll. The main hull of the canoe is approximately 11.5 feet long, 2 feet wide and 1.5 feet from keel to gunnel. The canoe has a single outrigger. The terms familiar to the author of this report regarding parts of an outrigger canoe are vaca (main hull), ama (outrigger float or outrigger hull) and aka (the cross beam connecting the main hull to the outrigger hull). The terms vaca, ama and aka may not be correct terms for a Micronesian canoe. The author requests correction should different terms be appropriate for a vessel from Micronesia.<br />
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Construction of the canoe is very high quality and utilized mahogany and other tropical hardwoods.<br />
This particular canoe design has two akas connecting the ama to the main hull of the canoe. The akas are spaced approximately 1.5 feet apart and attach to the ama using lashing and forked wood fittings.<br />
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<b>Overall Condition of Canoe:</b><br />
The overall condition of the canoe was very good. It was stored in a shipping container with all parts needed for assembly of the canoe in the main hull of the canoe. The canoe was secure in the shipping container and there was no visible sign of damage to the hull of the canoe.<br />
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The shipping container was open on one side, but the top, bottom, back side and ends of the container were intact. The container protected the canoe and its parts from sun and shielded the canoe from most weather. The canoe is painted and the paint appears in excellent condition.<br />
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Some rainwater collected in the main hull of the canoe and some of the canoe parts were wet when inspected. Live oak leaves and pine straw had also collected in the main hull of the canoe. Evidence of a water level about three inches deep was observed as a stain line on the inside of the canoe. There was minimal water in the canoe when inspected for this report and the water and leaves were removed from the canoe. It is likely the standing water / tannin stains can be cleaned from the canoe.<br />
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The shipping crate contained the following items:<br />
1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Main hull of the canoe or vaca<br />
2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Outrigger hull or ama<br />
3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Two akas<br />
4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Four forked pieces of wood for attaching the akas to the ama.<br />
5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>One bundle of coconut hair rope for lashing connections in assembly of the outrigger.<br />
6.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>One hand carved bailer<br />
7.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>One hand carved paddle<br />
8.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Approximately 100 feet of coconut hair line for lashing parts of the canoe together during assembly.<br />
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<b>Condition of Individual Parts:</b><br />
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The water collecting in the canoe caused one of the akas and one of the forks to discolor. The discoloration was a paper thin layer and there was no structural rot. When tested with a knife blade, the discolored wood was as hard as wood without the water stains. The discoloration can be sanded off of the wood and is paper thin. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWgxF8bvcHmhbVZYGCZu3oQYTOwg7EuAS0QwY9YCsXvsnBEEc6hS6v9KKARXJtfVaxf66z0_cQUosU_n_enMw20SHEtHoinq_f8EEUJKV_uuwFHIZ2Tn_vSW8XCCLKfxpT179/s1600/0407171559a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWgxF8bvcHmhbVZYGCZu3oQYTOwg7EuAS0QwY9YCsXvsnBEEc6hS6v9KKARXJtfVaxf66z0_cQUosU_n_enMw20SHEtHoinq_f8EEUJKV_uuwFHIZ2Tn_vSW8XCCLKfxpT179/s320/0407171559a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The bailer is very unique and in excellent condition. It fits the profile of the bottom of the canoe to scoop water out of the vessel. The bailer is hand carved, stunningly beautiful as well as functional.<br />
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The paddle and the ama have minor cracks where the wood grain has split. This type of grain splitting is usually caused from drying of the wood. The splits can be repaired in the paddle and ama. The splitting in the ama does not appear to be structural. The splitting in the paddle is likely a structural issue because it is on the blade where the wood is thin. The canoe builder and an expert in marine wood repair can be consulted on options for repair of the wood grain in the paddle and ama. Two such experts are known to the author. One is a wooden boat builder in St. Augustine and the other is a retired marine carpenter and cabinet maker from Rhode Island who now resides in Beaufort, SC.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl76saWpjhL-qDhMFX-SgeWUBlnW3dPhmDhQGbqH5PHAnNOM21r-mwjvUwrWlQ8njWshkoLNImE0NynhoNpNLtYsMqpEbrozdKVU8KOZ1VgG8GkGD_PWYSO_qf2wA4Z-6uxuyW/s1600/0407171555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl76saWpjhL-qDhMFX-SgeWUBlnW3dPhmDhQGbqH5PHAnNOM21r-mwjvUwrWlQ8njWshkoLNImE0NynhoNpNLtYsMqpEbrozdKVU8KOZ1VgG8GkGD_PWYSO_qf2wA4Z-6uxuyW/s320/0407171555.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
All other parts of the boat were inspected for cracking, rot or other issues. No other issues were found during the inspection. The hull of the boat, akas, ama-aka connection forks, bailer and lashing line showed no signs of deterioration and appeared structurally sound. No cosmetic blemishes were observed other than the above listed water stains and minor grain splitting on the ama.<br />
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<b>Re-packaging the Canoe in the crate:</b><br />
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The small parts for this canoe were placed inside the main hull of the canoe for shipping and storage. Water collection in the main hull likely caused the minor cosmetic issues observed. To avoid future wetting of the canoe parts, the parts were packed above the main hull of the canoe. This will prevent soaking of the parts in the event of a rain event. The disadvantage to the repackaging is parts are more likely to fall out of the shipping container. Care should be taken if the shipping container is moved.<br />
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<b>Assembly of the Canoe:</b><br />
The canoe is in structurally sound condition and could be assembled with the parts supplied. All parts for assembly are present. As stated earlier, the cosmetic grain separation in the ama should be addressed prior to assembly. This cosmetic repair will be more difficult to access following assembly because grain splitting is near the location where an aka attaches to the ama. <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
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Photos provided by the builder, Larry Raigetal, of similar vessels would be helpful in guiding assembly of this canoe. Likewise, video and / or photographic instruction in the lashing techniques used in assembly would be very beneficial.<br />
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A very similar canoe with the ama and akas attached to the canoe is depicted in the photo by Arde Pedersen on the <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/12533993@N03/7395346518/in/photolist-cgv5Ss-rEZTZ5-dKb6A2" target="_blank">following page</a>. The akas are attached to the main hull of the canoe by lashing. Likewise the ama is attached to the akas by lashing and four forked pieces of wood. The lashing is a very technical procedure and requires specialized knowledge and skill. We have sufficient coconut hair line to accomplish the lashing, but we do not have enough coconut hair line to practice and learn the lashing techniques. Because coconut hair line is both difficult to obtain and very labor intensive to manufacture, it is recommended that expert assistance be obtained for lashing with the coconut line. It is further recommended that video documentation of the lashing techniques be used to preserve the knowledge. Video documentation can be used as a tool to teach the lashing techniques to both Habele volunteers and future generations interested in learning the arts associated with building and assembling authentic Micronesian canoes.<br />
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A modern production 3/32” synthetic fiber line should be used for learning and practicing the lashing techniques. There are several synthetic line products on the market that have a similar brown color to the authentic coconut hair line. Temporary assembly of the canoe prior to obtaining expert lashing assistance can be done with synthetic line.<br />
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The author does not recommend using synthetic line for final and permanent assembly of this canoe. The coconut hair line is the traditional and authentic lashing material for these craft. The coconut hair line should be used in permanent assembly to preserve and maintain the beauty and authenticity of this canoe.<br />
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<b>Conclusions:</b><br />
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The canoe is in very good condition.<br />
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The canoe can be assembled and used in its current condition.<br />
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Repair of cosmetic grain splitting on the ama is recommended prior to assembly of the canoe.<br />
Repair of structural grain splitting on the paddle is necessary prior to use.<br />
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Water stains can be removed from the akas and aka-ama connecting fork with light sanding or scraping.<br />
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The water stains on the interior of the canoe can likely be cleaned with a soft sponge and water. Care should be used if using a detergent because this is a painted surface.<br />
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Expert assistance is necessary for lashing with the rare and difficult to manufacture authentic coconut hair line supplied.<br />
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The coconut hair line is difficult to manufacture and a precious resource. Practice lashing should not utilize the coconut hair line. Practice lashing or non-skilled assembly of the canoe can be accomplished by lashing with 3/32” or 1/8” synthetic fiber line. Synthetic fiber line is made in a brown color that resembles the authentic coconut hair line used for lashing in these canoes.<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php" name="fb_share" type="button">Share</a><script src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type="text/javascript"></script>Habele.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00687677551981447693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-31229839710899578672017-03-29T21:45:00.000-05:002017-03-29T21:57:05.790-05:00From Stone Money to STEM Olympians: Micronesian students head to International Robotics Competition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdsYzzmD_ZbV1nonmHjwU46pTkBY2mP9AORggNHyrt3bQ727ecEhrJKKJjMTLnxvtntiQf-3A4s3_xmgVNizCwlniRO_cj26rr9RxTe7lV5nLx3wgq6L_BEYRKb4FpHvrFBm_/s1600/Yap+Robo+League+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdsYzzmD_ZbV1nonmHjwU46pTkBY2mP9AORggNHyrt3bQ727ecEhrJKKJjMTLnxvtntiQf-3A4s3_xmgVNizCwlniRO_cj26rr9RxTe7lV5nLx3wgq6L_BEYRKb4FpHvrFBm_/s320/Yap+Robo+League+Logo.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
<i>The famously traditional Island of Stone Money is sending top students to a high tech global robotics competition.</i><br />
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Students from 153 nations will gather in Washington DC this summer for the international high school robotics Olympics. Few will have traveled as far –geographically or culturally– as the Robo League team from Yap.<br />
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The FIRST <a href="http://first.global/" target="_blank">Global Challenge</a> is a worldwide robotics competition. Small student teams design, build, and compete complex robots from simple parts. The work demands hands-on mastery of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) skills. Featuring teams from across the planet, it also serves as a forum for students to meet and partner with diverse international peers.<br />
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Students in Yap –a remote Micronesian Island most famous for its Stone Money– <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2011/12/schools-charities-team-up-for-robotics.html" target="_blank">established</a> their own Robotics League in 2011, holding Micronesia’s first public exhibition in summer of 2012.<br />
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Organized by US-based NGO “<a href="http://www.habele.org/" target="_blank">Habele</a>,” the Yap Robo League remains the only coordinated multi-year robotics program in the Central or Western Pacific. It has grown and thrived through a defining partnership with a robotics team at <a href="http://www.chaminade.org/" target="_blank">Chaminade</a> College Preparatory School, in Los Angeles, California. In-kind gifts of time and talent, as well as private donations and local fundraisers entirely finance the league.<br />
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The all-star team headed to the FIRST Global Challenge is comprised of three high school seniors from <a href="http://www.ychs.net/" target="_blank">Yap Catholic High School</a>, winners of the 2016 Habele Robo League Championship. They will spend nearly a week in the US Capital, participating in a lavish international opening ceremony, a series of robotics exhibitions, competitions, and eliminations, as well as tours and team building exercises with students from around the world.<br />
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“Since 2011, hardworking students, educators, and community members have grown and sustained one the Pacific’s most exceptional –and most popular– educational programs,” observed Alex Sidles, a Habele Director. “Invitation to the Global Challenge is just the latest testimony to the accomplishments and ambitions of the Yap Robo League, and its innovative focus on competition, incentives, and accountability.”<br />
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The many tiny islands of Micronesia are home to a semi cash economy, primarily comprised of subsistence agriculture and fishing. Their remoteness and relative lack of resources limits formal economic growth and opportunities. However, they place great emphasis on preserving cultural practices while learning modern technology.<br />
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Widely studied in the West, Yapese <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rai_stones" target="_blank">stone money</a>, or "Rai," are an example. The large, circular stone disks have been used for centuries as currency. The system relies on oral histories of ownership because the carved stones are too large to move.<br />
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One project to sustain traditional practices is “<a href="http://www.waagey.org/" target="_blank">Waa’gey</a>,” an after school cultural skills program. Many Yap Robo League students <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2013/12/waagey-and-yap-catholic-high-school.html" target="_blank">participate</a>, receiving instruction on-campus and after-school from Waa’gey mentors in centuries old Carolinian carving and sailing techniques.<br />
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“There are many connections between the techniques of canoe building and celestial navigation and the skills students develop with these robots,” explained Master Navigator Larry Raigetal. “The outside world’s increasing focus on so-called STEM instruction is, for us, something of a return to the way we’ve always understand knowledge and building. I hope our young people take that insight with them to Washington.”<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php" name="fb_share" type="button">Share</a><script src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type="text/javascript"></script>Habele.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00687677551981447693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-21867652716883839632017-03-23T11:41:00.004-05:002017-03-24T18:58:54.283-05:00Historic Sail showcases Micronesian craftsmanship, navigation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRGJhHQBbwAD6Wu4mydHvajfDpFll4EgFCpVnMunWkBMLhnyOjKoY35SdKj6zF8TkRln7WqUHBO5tz2eBQAYF9Cjn1YOEma-QkMO1sJi2Es5YpHR-QWOapGyrJToDH7hvDq27/s1600/2016_uog_lamotrek_sail_2000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRGJhHQBbwAD6Wu4mydHvajfDpFll4EgFCpVnMunWkBMLhnyOjKoY35SdKj6zF8TkRln7WqUHBO5tz2eBQAYF9Cjn1YOEma-QkMO1sJi2Es5YpHR-QWOapGyrJToDH7hvDq27/s320/2016_uog_lamotrek_sail_2000.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>UOG President Dr. Underwood stands with the traditional navigators from the Lamotrek, Yap State, Micronesia at a ceremony celebrating their voyage (link).</i></div>
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For centuries, the people of the central <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2015/04/micronesia-101-where-is-micronesia.html" target="_blank">Caroline Islands</a> have relied heavily on their voyaging canoes as their primary means of transport. They made voyages to islands near and afar to obtain necessities including food, tools, and other valuables. In some instances, following devastating natural calamities, their canoes are used to relocate to a different island as was the case for the “Carolinians” now residing in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI). </div>
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Today, the art of canoe building and traditional celestial navigations, continues in these remote islands of the Federated States of Micronesia. Although at a smaller scale than what it used to be, the important knowledge of their ancestors is being passed on to younger generations. <a href="http://www.waagey.org/" target="_blank">Waa’gey</a> is a community-based organization that is working with their island communities to promote traditional skills and knowledge transfer.<br />
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Realizing the challenges brought to the shores of Micronesia by globalization and environmental issues—including climate change and rising sea levels—the people of Lamotrek Atoll in Yap State worked with Waa’gey’s Larry Reigetal and his crew to refurbish an outrigger canoe named The <i>Lucky Star</i>. Using only <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2013/07/waagey-presents-traditional-knowledge.html" target="_blank">traditional seafaring methods</a> and no modern navigation technology, the eight-man crew (Paul Haleyalpiy, Johnny Ratigulur, Noel Ukun, Iseah Yarofyan, Jackson Mailuw, Delson Twerital, Wilson Filmwai, and documentary film producer Douglas Varchol) led by Larry Reigetal braved storms and powerful ocean currents to <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2016/05/historic-micronesian-canoes-make.html" target="_blank">travel over 500 miles to Guam</a> over five days to participate and showcase their Micronesian culture in the Festival of Pacific Arts held in May 2016. After the festival, the crew sailed over 500 miles back to Lamotrek over a period of 10 days.</div>
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The crew brought along a traditional pandanus sail woven by the people of Lamotrek to use during Guam FestPac 2016, and to display the skills used to create it. The entire process of weaving the sail took more than six months, with over 30 people contributing to its construction.</div>
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<i>Lucky Star's arrival on Guam</i></div>
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Due to modern seafaring technologies, the traditional weaving techniques in Lamotrek had not been in practice for over half a century. However, through this project, Waa’gey was able to enlist the help of 95-year old Maria Labusheilam, the last master weaver in Lamotrek. She taught the skills to 20 women apprentices, led by her daughter Maria Ilourutog. The men of Lamotrek, led by Xavier Yarofaliyango, cut the pandanus leaves, and stretched and stitched the sail together. Labusheilam died two weeks after passing on the knowledge; she did not see the final outcome of her work. The sail is woven from the pandanus (or screw-pine) tree commonly grown on beaches of almost all tropical islands. </div>
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The leaves are harvested, dried under the sun, and stripped into single fibers. They are then woven into longer strips of sheets, which are then strengthened by stretching and wrapping the sheets around coconut palm trees. The sheets are then sewn together with sennit twine ropes made from coconut fibers. The weaving of sails is not the same as weaving sleeping mats, as they need to be doubled and overlapped to ensure strength and durability.</div>
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<i>Early post World War II canoe sail, outer islands of Yap, Micronesia.</i></div>
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The sail was previously displayed at the University of Guam and the Honolulu Museum of Art, and will be the main art display at the UN Headquarters during The Ocean Conference from June 5 – 9. 2017. It will then travel to Europe, Asia, and Australia before it makes its final voyage to the Federated States of Micronesia capital—Palikir—in time to sail the 2018 Micronesian Games torch to Yap next summer. It has been autographed by all the people from Lamotrek and the President of the FSM, His Excellency Peter Christian.</div>
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<i>German anthropological drawing of Carolinian Sailing Canoes, circa 1890</i></div>
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In the center of the sail is the phrase “Falemwaiul Lamoireg?”, which means “Survival of Lamoireg’s Glory”. It highlights the community’s own struggle to combat the negative impacts of modernization—including environmental issues such as climate change and rising of sea levels. It is the hope of the Lamotrek people that this sail travels around the world to show their cultural heritage of the past—canoe building and voyaging—are not only applicable to our societies, but are indeed conducive to the environment in which we live.</div>
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<a href="http://www.habele.org/" target="_blank">Habele</a>, a US-based nonprofit, is a proud partner of <a href="http://www.waagey.org/" target="_blank">Waa'gey</a>, providing targeted grants and equipping master and apprentice carvers with world class, culturally appropriate, <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2016/06/adze-blades-for-moch-chuuk-canoe-carvers.html" target="_blank">tools</a>.</div>
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Habele.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00687677551981447693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-79181494830356300862017-01-31T10:23:00.001-05:002017-02-13T16:35:49.926-05:00Micronesian Diaspora, Peace Corps, seek support for isolated Island School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagLpLi89Kw5YdZ67jwioHVK5phYXvx0qZePVcFBhHs0qlUTZW_Pz-3Fo7ROVz4_N28lctV3NJy8Bzb5ediU_umCA5_ppKL85LDTj1lLOgfpYmKn2wYxn1pjcHoYtohyhjSrVr/s1600/Federai+Island+Ulithi+Atoll+Yap+State+Micronesia+FSM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagLpLi89Kw5YdZ67jwioHVK5phYXvx0qZePVcFBhHs0qlUTZW_Pz-3Fo7ROVz4_N28lctV3NJy8Bzb5ediU_umCA5_ppKL85LDTj1lLOgfpYmKn2wYxn1pjcHoYtohyhjSrVr/s320/Federai+Island+Ulithi+Atoll+Yap+State+Micronesia+FSM.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
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<i>Gene Rachielug is from Federai and currently lives in Portland, Oregon. On his last home trip to Ulithi, he met Stephen Guertler a new Peace Corps Volunteer serving on the island. Gene proposed creating an online platform to not only raise awareness on the issues of Climate Change effecting his island home, and raise money and donations to help out the school and the entire community. </i><br />
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<i>Gene will coordinate all the monetary and in-kind donations, and Stephen will coordinate everything on the ground. </i><br />
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The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a sovereign island nation with four states, from west to east – Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae. These four states are made up of 607 islands; which range in size from the main island of Pohnpei which is 128 sq mi, to the largest island in the <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2007/09/modern-history-of-ulithi-atoll-part-i.html" target="_blank">Ulithi Atoll</a> at only 1.3 sq mi. The expanse of islands occupies over 1 million square miles of the Pacific Ocean.</div>
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The FSM has a special relationship with the United States, called the Compact of Free Association, which was officially adopted and signed into law on November 13, 1986. This agreement provides U.S. economic assistance in areas of health and education, along with defense of the FSM, and other services and benefits. The compact is periodically renegotiated between both governments, the last negotiation took place in 2003 and then next will one will take place in 2023.<br />
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The U.S. Peace Corps was established in the FSM in 1966, and has welcomed more than 4,340 total volunteers since its inception. Currently, Peace Corps Volunteers (PCV) are working in the Education Sector as co-teachers and co-planners in schools across the FSM in all four states. Peace Corps Response Volunteers (PCRV) also work in the education sector as professionals in the realm of accreditation. In the past, there have been volunteers in many sectors such as; agriculture, health, and youth development. <br />
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Stephen Guertler is currently a PCV serving on the island of <a href="http://habele.blogspot.com/2012/12/historic-canoe-returns-to-micronesia.html" target="_blank">Federai</a> in the Ulithi Atoll. This atoll is situated 95 miles off the coast of Yap Mainland and is accessible via planes, and cargo ships.<br />
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Very few people know about these islands, or the generous, friendly, and hardworking people that inhabit them. It’s time for everyone to not only be aware of these super talented people, but to understand that if given the right tools to succeed they can do anything. To reach their goals, students need more resources to excel in school, continue in higher education, and come back to their home islands and influence positive change.<br />
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Gene and Stephen created this page to raise awareness, and create a space for people to donate goods or money to assist the community on Federai. It is our hope, that you will help us reach our goal, spread our message, and create connections to the community on Federai. Lets help these students have access to the books and materials they need to excel and reach their full potential. Education is key for the future sustainability of the islands.<br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GidkV0cqhbk/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GidkV0cqhbk?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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To donate goods directly, please take a look at the list below for the most needed items. When you send the package, please include a note with your name and address. To ship, go to a United States Postal Service Location (USPS) and get a white priority box to get standard shipping rates along with a tracking number. The boxes come in different sizes; small, medium (top-loading), medium (side-loading) large, and board game<br />
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On the customs form please indicate “Donated Goods/toys/books” where applicable, and send to the following address, which is treated by the USPS as domestic:<br />
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Stephen Guertler: C/O Peace Corps<br />
P.O. Box 190<br />
Colonia, Yap<br />
96943, FSM</blockquote>
Stephen has volunteered to coordinate distribution of all donated materials to the island community and will ensure all donations are put directly into the hands of students and teachers; but this page is not affilated with Peace Corps Organization. <br />
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To donate monetary funds, please use<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/islandschoolproject" target="_blank"> this GOFUNDME page</a>, the proceeds will go toward the purchase of the list below, as well as covering shipping costs for additional materials donated locally.<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php" name="fb_share" type="button">Share</a><script src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type="text/javascript"></script>Habele.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00687677551981447693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28347081.post-33804419607187333132016-11-27T18:55:00.003-05:002016-11-27T20:03:37.805-05:00Break down barriers for FAS migrants, revamp aid to Micronesia - HI Think tank<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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US aid programs for Micronesia, Palau, and the Marshall Islands are deeply flawed, and Micronesians who come to the US seeking a better life often face major challenges as well.<br />
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That's the conclusion of a new report published by the Hawaiian-based Grassroot Institute, a nonpartisan think tank.<br />
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The Institute's new <a href="http://new.grassrootinstitute.org/2016/11/report-returning-power-to-micronesians-in-hawaii/" target="_blank"><i>Returning Power to Micronesians in Hawaii</i></a> report explains how decades of poorly designed and badly managed bilateral aid has stunted economic growth in these three strategically situated Pacific islands nations, collectively known as the Freely Associated States (FAS).<br />
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Lack of domestic opportunity, combined with special rights of entry and indefinite residency in the United States, have driven large numbers of Micronesians from the FAS to Guam, Hawaii, and the US mainland in the recent years.<br />
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The <i>Returning Power</i> report examines how FAS migrants who come to Hawaii face a second set of challenges in the form of artificial barriers to affordable housing and economic mobility.<br />
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Read the full report at <a href="http://new.grassrootinstitute.org/2016/11/report-returning-power-to-micronesians-in-hawaii/" target="_blank">GrassrootInstitute.org</a>.<br />
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