- Habele
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The Habele Outer Island Education Fund (or simply “Habele”) is a small South Carolina–based charitable organization serving the low-lying atolls of Yap State and Chuuk State in the Federated States of Micronesia.[1] Habele serves the islands of Ulithi, Woleai, and Satawal, Eauripik, Ifalik, and Lamotrek in Yap State as well as islands throughout Chuuk state.[2]
Contents
Background
According to a 2006 annual report, the organization was founded by a group of former Peace Corps volunteers who served in Micronesia, and it received IRS nonprofit status in September 2006.[3] It has grown steadily since then. In the first year of operation $2,890 in scholarships were awarded. Scholarships for 2007-08 exceeded $3,500.[4] The issuance of scholarships in 2008-09, exceeding $5,000, was described by the Peace Corps Micornesia Country Director as "particularly important" for expanding education opportunities because students living outside Micronesia's four state capitals have very limited access to formal education options.[5] A total of 21 scholarships were issued for the 2010-11 school year.[6] The charity has no paid employees.[7]
Student scholarships
The fund awards scholarships to students attending primary and secondary private schools and provides material donations to small public schools. Donations generally consist of books, school supplies, and basic clothing items.[8] Habele has played a major role in the creation of libraries on the isolated atolls of Ulithi and Eauripik.[9]
South Carolina State Senators Glenn McConnell and Robert Ford of Charleston, South Carolina drew attention to Habele, when the charity announced $7,500 in scholarships for sixteen elementary and high school students in 2009.[10] Louis J. Rama, a senior consul at the Federated States of Micronesia Consulate on Guam, called for the expansion of this and other programs supporting low-income students through tuition assistance.[11]
The donor-financed tuition payments awarded by Habele are a form of private vouchers. Unlike public school vouchers, private vouchers are not funded by the government. The use of private vouchers for low-income students has been described as a tool for facilitating education reform without becoming immersed in politics.[12]
Language
Early in 2010, Habele announced plans to develop and distribute native language materials for educators and students in the outer islands of Yap State, Micronesia. The initial project was a Ulithian to English dictionary.[13] This was the first rigorous documentation of the Ulithian language and copies were provided to educators and students throughout Ulithi and Fais.[14] The authors' stated aim was to create a consistent and intuitive pattern of Roman alphabet spelling useful for native Ulithian and native English speakers.[15]
References
- ^ "Palmetto State Democrats Donate to Local Charity Serving Micronesia." Pacific Magazine Online, December 11, 2006.[1]
- ^ "CHUUK, YAP ISLANDERS AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS" East West Center, September 3, 2008.[2]
- ^ "Habele Outer Island Education Fund 2006 Annual Report" accessed April 25, 2007.[3]
- ^ "Habele Fund Awards FSM Scholarships," Pacific Magazine Online, August 4, 2007.[4]
- ^ "Six Outer Islanders Receive Scholarships From U.S. Fund," Pacific Magazine Online, September 7, 2008.[5]
- ^ "Habele awards 21 scholarships to Micronesian students," Saipan Tribune, August 6, 2010.[6]
- ^ "Habele group awards $5K scholarships to islanders" Pacific Daily News, September 7, 2008.[7]
- ^ "Pacific Islands Networking" Pacific Initiative, University of Hawaii. Accessed April 25, 2007.[8]
- ^ "School books, supplies donated to remote Pacific Island," Saipan Tribune. Accessed March 9, 2008.[9]
- ^ "Senators McConnell and Ford Praise Micronesian Scholarships," Lowcountry Today, August 7, 2009.[10]
- ^ "Scholarships awarded to 16 students in FSM," Pacific Daily News, August 7, 2009.[11]
- ^ "Private Vouchers," edited by Terry M. Moe, Hoover Institution Press, 1995. Pages 7-9.
- ^ "FORMER MICRONESIA PEACE CORPS GROUP FUNDS SCHOLARSHIPS" Pacific Island Report, East-West Center, January 28, 2010.[12]
- ^ "Charity Publishes Dictionary For Remote Micronesian Islanders," COM-FSM, May 10, 2010.[13]
- ^ "Ulithi Dictionary to Help FSM Students Learn English," Australian Broadcasting Company, May 14, 2010. [14]
External links
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