The Habele Outer Island Education Fund has released initial accounting numbers for fiscal year 2007. According to Habele Treasurer Tom Lutte, more than 90 cents of each dollar spent went directly to K-12 scholarships and library development in the Outer Islands of Micronesia.One of the keys to Habele’s...

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December 8th 2007 | Covina CaliforniaA group of students at Covina High School in California are mailing off an early Christmas Gift to fellow pupils in the Central Pacific nation of Micronesia. The gift, a collection of lightly-used text books, has been assembled as a donation for a...

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A recent email to Habele explains:I just saw your website and wanted to say thank you for all you are doing for the kids on the outer islands. I am from Eauripik and now reside in Washington state and it is good to know that people are doing...

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Habele volunteers from a public high school in Upland California continue to gather books for students at the Outer Island High School in Yap State, Micronesia. The most recent shipment included text books for Chemistry 1, Economics, U.S. Government, AP Biology, and Human Biology, as well as basic...

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The Kaselehlie Press reports on the tensions of federalism embodied in an ongoing dispute over government oil contracts between state and national law makers in the FSMYokwe.net has a detailed article explaining the push among some US House Members to reinstate certain Federal benefits to citizens of the...

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Habele is sending a collection of basic hand tools to the vocational education teachers working at the Neighboring Island High School on the Atoll of Woleai."Woleai is a remote island and basic supplies are hard to come by" explained Mr. Alex Sidles, Secretary of the Habele Board of...

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Habele recently received a kind email from Mr. John Taibemal. John is a native of the Atoll of Eauripik who is now serving as an Airman in the United States Air Force. Because of the conditions of the Contact of Free Association Micronesian citizens may enlist in the...

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This is the third in a series of blog entries chronicling the modern history of the Ulithi Atoll. For background information see Part I (1529 to 1730), Part II (1731 to 1899), and Part III (1900-1943).The Americans came to Ulithi in September of 1944. Their presence would lead...

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This is the third in a series of blog entries chronicling the modern history of the Ulithi Atoll. For background information see Part I, which covers 1529 to 1730, and Part II, which covers from 1731 to 1899.At the conclusion of the Spanish America War the United States...

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This is the second in a series of blog entries chronicling the modern history of the Ulithi Atoll. For background information see Part I which covers 1529 to 1730.Fathers Contova and Walter, as well as a small contingent of Spanish soldiers, sailors, and alter boys arrived in on...

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In response to requests from our volunteers and donors Habele will be writing a series of blog entires dealing with the modern history of the Ulithi Atoll. Particular attention will be paid to how contact with outsiders has influenced social, political, and economic changes on the Atoll.Westerners first...

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Habele volunteers sent off instructional materials to Head Start centers on the Ulithi Atoll late this week. The shipment, the third this year to Head Start, was organized by a retired couple who visited the Outer Islands of Yap in 2004. My husband and I had a wonderful...

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The tragic shooting deaths in Neosho Missouri have sparked coverage of the plight of Micronesians in the United States. The Far Outliers blog has a great entry looking at success stories of Micronesian immigrants in the United States.A new Congressional Research Service highlights the role of Micronesia and...

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There is an interesting review in The Economist of Paul Collier’s The Bottom Billion. The piece explains how Collier argues [A]id from the guilt-ridden West is not the answer, or at least not the main answer, and certainly not aid as it has so often been disbursed. For...

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(July 31, 2007, Columbia, South Carolina) The Habele Outer Island Education Fund announced today that it is awarding over $3,500 in high school scholarships to students from a remote and underdeveloped Pacific Atoll in Micronesia.Habele, a South Carolina based nonprofit, is comprised of former Peace Corps Volunteers and...

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As part of our ongoing effort to keep Habele volunteers and donors informed about cultural and political developments in Micronesia’s remote Outer Islands we have compiled this brief overview of national indicators. It is important to keep in mind that these figures reflect either federal averages or the...

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Habele has just received the 2007-08 tuition schedule from Bethania High School in Palau. Citing rising costs in utilities, teacher cost of living adjustments and basic school supplies the school announced a 16 percent increase in tuition. The school also has added a range of fees (including standardized...

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The South Carolina Secretary of State has reported that Habele devoted 82.8 percent of its total expenses to program services during the 2006 fiscal year.Tom Lutte, the Fund’s Treasurer, noted that Habele is able to maintain such an efficient organization by not having a single paid employee. Unlike...

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California volunteers are sending more toys for Head Start centers on the Atoll of Ulithi. Please contact Habele if you are interested in helping with this warm-hearted project. In regional news:Trust Funds May Not Provide Sustainable Income for FSMThe new report, "Compacts of Free Association: Trust Fund for...

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A quick review of news from the Outer Islands of Yap and around Micronesia.Authors of a new paper in the Journal of Public Health Nutrition found that the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) has "suffered a great loss in production and consumption of local foods. Inconsistent external and...

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Habele is proud to announce that we, with the help of generous donors across the US, are within $200 of reaching our summer fundraising goal! Habele will be officially awarding its scholarships to Micronesian Outer Island students at summer’s end.New photos of Habele scholars during the 2006-07 school...

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Habele volunteers in California have been gathering donated stuffed animals this week for the Head Start center on Falalop Ulithi. Overseen by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Head Start is public pre-kindergarten program that promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development...

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Habele is proud to announce a forthcoming collaboration with the Oceanic Society, a nonprofit conservation organization based in San Francisco, to expand our high school scholarships for Outer Island students in Yap State.The Oceanic Society aims to protect marine wildlife worldwide through an integrated program of scientific research,...

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The Economist recently published an excellent piece on the power of educational vouchers. The article argues that greater parental choice in K-12 education correlates with improved student performance, and not merely from the so-called "skimming" of smart students or "self-selection" by ambitious parents.Harry Patrinos, an education economist at...

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American Blogger and Yap State resident R. K. Ledgerwood posted about the FSM Justice Department's search and seizure of documents belonging to former FSM Ambassador to the US Jesse B. Marehalau. The "raid" occurred on the Atoll of Ulithi. There are numerous posting about the incident at the...

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A group of graduating seniors from the University of South Carolina have been working with Habele to send their lightly used clothing to students at the Outer Island High School on the Atoll of Ulithi."This is a great chance for us to clear out our dorms as we...

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Habele has begun it’s fundraising drive for the 2007-08 school year. The Fund, an IRS recognized nonprofit organization, is looking to raise $3,000 in order to pay for two scholarships for Outer Island students attending boarding schools in Micronesian district centers. More details in the coming weeks. Check...

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Last week we noted that Miriam K. Hughes was nominated by the White House to serve as Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). The Federated States, or simply “Micronesia,” is a collection of four island groupings in the Central Pacific. The islands were once administered by...

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