Habele is a US nonprofit, created by former Peace Corps Volunteers who lived and worked in Micronesia, and who wanted to remain engaged with the communities they served after their Peace Corps service. The word Habele is a Ulithian word. Ulithian is one of the many languages used in Micronesia. It means “to be” but … Continue reading Habele Report Looks Back on Work in 2024
Report highlights Habele’s expanded support for Micronesian Students and Schools
Habele, a US nonprofit that serves students and schools across Micronesia, has released its annual report for 2023. The report details another year of expanded service across the Federated States. Among the highlights: 126 Tuition Scholarships were awarded to elementary and high school students across Micronesia for the 2023-24 school year; 95 boxes of books … Continue reading Report highlights Habele’s expanded support for Micronesian Students and Schools
Report Highlights Service to Students & Schools Across Micronesia
It was a big year for Habele and the students and schools it serves across Micronesia. The non-profit was established in 2006 by former Peace Corps Volunteers who lived and taught in these small, scattered islands. Each year since, Habele issues a report to volunteers and donors offering an overview of it's work. According to … Continue reading Report Highlights Service to Students & Schools Across Micronesia
Peer-to-Peer Documentation of Micronesian Weaving
In spring 2022, the Habele Outer Island Education Fund in the Federated States of Micronesia was one of 10 projects chosen to receive a highly-competitive Community Collections Grant from the American Folklife Center (AFC) through the Library’s Of the People: Widening the Path initiative. Funded by the Mellon Foundation, the grant program serves to support … Continue reading Peer-to-Peer Documentation of Micronesian Weaving
Charter School in Chuuk Aims to Revive Loom Weaving
An innovative Charter school is reintroducing old cultural skills to local students on Weno, capital of the most populous state in the Federated States of Micronesia. A distinctive form of backstrap loom weaving was once ubiquitous across the Caroline Islands, today’s Federated States of Micronesia. Now the intricate work of crafting these textiles endures only … Continue reading Charter School in Chuuk Aims to Revive Loom Weaving
Preservation of Traditional Pacific Loom Weaving
"Loom is a solution for saving traditional Pacific island weaving from extinction" McClure, Joyce, Pacific Island Times, February 1, 2022, pages 31-32 When the young women of Yap’s remote outer islands leave home to seek a college education, better work opportunities or medical care on the U.S. mainland, the risk of leaving their cultural traditions … Continue reading Preservation of Traditional Pacific Loom Weaving
Micronesian Looms: Weaving Connections in the US (6)
This is the sixth in a series of posts dealing with Weaving Connections, a project of Habele to sustain and preserve Micronesian backstrap weaving traditions among Island populations who’ve migrated to the United States mainland. More here. Ongoing Work Habele continues to build and send warping boards, loom frames, and weaving tools based on its … Continue reading Micronesian Looms: Weaving Connections in the US (6)
Micronesian Looms: Weaving Connections in the US (5)
This is the fifth in a series of posts dealing with Weaving Connections, a project of Habele to sustain and preserve Micronesian backstrap weaving traditions among Island populations who’ve migrated to the United States mainland. More here. Creation of Website Content The WeavingConnections.org domain was purchased and a draft website laid out. The site was … Continue reading Micronesian Looms: Weaving Connections in the US (5)
Micronesian Looms: Weaving Connections in the US (4)
This is the fourth in a series of posts dealing with Weaving Connections, a project of Habele to sustain and preserve Micronesian backstrap weaving traditions among Island populations who’ve migrated to the United States mainland. More here. Further Engagement of On-Island Weavers and Craftsmen Publication of photos of initial designs and prototypes on social media … Continue reading Micronesian Looms: Weaving Connections in the US (4)
Micronesian Looms: Weaving Connections in the US (3)
This is the third in a series of posts dealing with Weaving Connections, a project of Habele to sustain and preserve Micronesian backstrap weaving traditions among Island populations who’ve migrated to the United States mainland. More here Development of Initial Prototypes First, Habele fabricated a scale model, and then a full-size initial specimen, of a … Continue reading Micronesian Looms: Weaving Connections in the US (3)