US-Yapese Partnership on Display at Schools Across Yap

US Marines painting a school in Gagil, Yap.

The school year on is well underway, and for some students on Yap it’s a bit brighter than they may have expected upon return to campus. Over the summer a small group of Marines and Sailors were busy sprucing up their schools.

Koa Moana

U.S. Marines and Sailors of Combat Logistics Battalion 13, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group worked on Yap this summer as part of “Moana 24.” Across the FSM and Palau, teams undertook a range of engineering projects. These included renovation of schools, facilities, and historical memorials. Their efforts extended to community engagement activities such as sporting events, school interactions, and cultural immersion, and explosive ordnance disposal.

Arriving on Yap in June, the Koa Moana team was led by Lieutenant Mikellides and Gunnery Sergeant Laws. Lt. Mikellides worked to carefully, and respectfully, to initiate relations with traditional and political leaders, as well as many in the community eager to get things done. His Marines identified and completed much-needed projects. They did so in ways that engaged Marines with Yapese and Outer Islanders throughout. From construction and painting at schools to reading with children and signing them up for book donations, Mikellides’ Marines made a big, positive impact.

Marines of Koa Moana ’24 working with concrete at Saint Mary’s School in Colonia, Yap

Locally Stated Needs

Liliana Gootinag, Princpal of Gagil Elementary School, was among those who were eager to partner with the Marines. She sought to revamp the school’s buildings’ exteriors, “aiming to create a more conducive and uplifting learning environment for the students. The project would not only enhance the school’s appearance but also contribute to the overall well-being of the educational community.” US nonprofit Habele provided funds and the materials were purchased. Then the Marines and Sailors got to work.

Similarly, Mae Lynn E. Tiningidow, Principal of Dalipebinaw Community School, had a vision for a more beautiful learning environment. Again, Habele donated money to purchase supplies. The Marines painted the 2-story classroom building, refurbished the rails, and replaced window screens on all classroom windows.

At Saint Mary’s Catholic School, the need was for concrete benches, on which students could gather to share meals, collaborate on work, or watch their peers play sports on the adjacent court. Principal Rufino Xavier (himself a Marine Veteran) reached out to Lieutenant Mikellides for the labor and engineering, and to Habele for money for the materials. At Yap Catholic High School, the Marines extended a school’s internet network -originally donated by Habele in 2021– across three buildings to enhance learning connectivity.

Marines and Sailors of Combat Logistics Battalion 13, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group reading with children on Yap in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)

Focus on Literacy

In addition to the Marines’s very visible accomplishments at the schools, the troops also took the time to engage directly with students, and those still too young to be attending. With books donated by Habele, the Marines read to groups of children and provide sign-up sheets to mothers whose children under five years are eligible to participate in “Young Island Readers.” This Habele book-a-month program sends over 600 books each month directly to children throughout Yap State.

Collaboration

A big part of the success was collaboration. Officials at the State Department of Education, down to individual school principals as well as classroom teachers, were eager to present and move on good ideas. American citizens living on Yap, as well as Yapese and Outer Islanders volunteering for Habele, worked to streamline the process, identifying, requesting and delivering the funds so the Marines could quickly get to work, bypassing the time and complexity of seeking funds from Washington.

“The decades-long partnership between Yap and the US is based on a shared history, mutual respect, and a common commitment to do the right things,” explained Neil Mellen, a former Peace Corps Volunteer and Director of Habele. “These projects, requested by local Yapese, funded by an American nonprofit, and completed by US Marines, provide further evidence of how the US and Yap can, and do, pool public and private talents and resources to get the job done for the People of Yap State.”

 

3,000th book mailed to Yap so far in 2023

“Young Island Readers” is a book-a-month donation program that provides children in Yap State from birth to age five a new age appropriate each and every month. In mid-October the 3,000th book this year will reach the Post Office box of a family on Yap.

The heart of Young Island Readers is Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL). The Imagination Library was founded and created by songwriter, musician, actress, author and business-woman, Dolly Parton, in her hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee in 1996. She envisioned a community-based program providing children with free, home-delivered books from birth to their 5th birthday.
Habele is the “local affilate” or on-the-ground partner for DPIL in Micronesia. Established by former Peace Corps Volunteers, Habele is a US nonprofit, invested in the future and potential of Micronesian students since 2006. Though the program is both effective and efficient, there are still ongoing costs borne by Habele and these are generously provided by the individual Americans who support Habele.

 

Babyor ko btir rom u Habele!

Habele ea bayi pii ko bitir rom bake babyor ni yu puul, nge mada’ ko ngiyal’ nike gamane lal eduw rok’ ni dariy pulwon. Gamad be a thapeg ni ra ilal ma baadag e bieg babyor. Kugoged ni be’eg babyor ko bitir, ma gubine bitir ni baye duuw rok’ ngatanggine laal, mara yog ninge sign faun ngay.

Ba’ba form ni bay ni pii ngom ningam fill nag mag fulweg ko chaan nike piingom, fa min moen’ ngalangin ere box ni baaray ko “Young Island Readers Dropbox.”

Fa gara yan kore website ne baaray www.habele.org/read mag yiloy fidingam u online. Faan ra gamaa paru dakan e nam nu Waab, ma Habele ea bayi pii yuke babyor ngom ni yu puul u P.O. Box. Faan ra gamaa paru Ulithi, Fais fa Woleai, ma ra yibe yuke babyor nem ngomu sikokiy ko PMA. Faan ra gama paru yugrebe donguchen yu Waab, ma ra I yib e yuke babyor nem ngom nikan tay nga mail bag u barkow.

Yal titi babior mirel Habele!

Pangal meram nge Habele yebe fange seew buuku ngali laum saari gasiyee yela gola lago mena galimouwal yaal birthday. Yetoar paluwel iye book kale. Sitipeli be saari laum yebe mesaigeti gare geshangi geragireg iga yebe fefetaltag. Si faseongiu be “Young Island Readers.” Ye tai tiwegil semaliu saari ye chiil ragil faal limou raagi nge yebe mewl tabeye gare fateofato itale.

Gemaneo shagiu babiyor yeel nge gosa gatefali ngali yaremate la ye ganooge, gare iselilong lani Habele Young Island Readers kagool. Gare golago woal www.habele.org/read be gobe siine longo iyange. Gare go kasog woal Yap, nge yebe seew meram nge Habele yebe fange buuk reel yaamu PO Box. Gare golog woal Ulithi, Fais, Woleai nge PMA yebe gasine tage. Gare golog woal meratag, nge rebe fange tag shiul waafaliuw lani tutul mail.