The Habele Outer Island Education Fund will be releasing its 2008 Annual Report later this week. Board members are in the process of reviewing the final draft and hope to distribute copies to donors and volunteers later this week.

Highlights of Habele's 2008 accomplishments have already been posted to the habele.org website. Among the accomplishments detailed in the report:

Tuition Assistance – SEVEN SCHOLARSHIPS

• Bethania High School, Republic of Palau
  • Joeann Malchemar, Junior from Falalop, Ulithi
• SDA School, Yap
  • Shania Marpa, Fourth Grade from Mogmog, Ulithi
  • Gilmmer Marpa, Second Grade from Mogmog, Ulithi
• Saramen Chuuk Academy, Chuuk, Micronesia
  • Parky Mwarike, Freshman from Moch, Chuuk
• Berea High School, Chuuk, Micronesia
  • Mavrick Hellmas, Freshman from Ta, Chuuk
  • Jodie Sam, Freshman from Kuttu, Chuuk
  • Bradley Rubin, Junior from LeKinioch, Chuuk

Public School and Library Support – EIGHT MAILINGS

• Purchased School Supplies – Mailed to Eauripik
  • 20 Boxes, Eauripik Community School, 02/25/2008
• Purchased School Supplies – Mailed to Eauripik
  • 2 Boxes, Eauripik Community School, 03/16/2008
• Purchased School Supplies – Mailed to Ulithi, Yap
  • 4 Boxes, Asor and Falalop Elementary School, 03/16/2008
• Purchased School Supplies – Mailed to Weno, Chuuk
  • 4 Boxes, Moch Elementary School, 06/17/2008
• Donated Shirts – Mailed to Ulithi
  • 4 Boxes, Outer Island Elementary School, 07/01/2008
• Purchased Library Supplies – Mailed to Eauripik
  • 2 Boxes, Eauripik Community School, 10/12/2008
• Purchased School Supplies
  • 2 Boxes, Fais and Wooleai Elementary Schools, 11/12/2008
• Donated School Supplies – Mailed to Yap
  • 2 boxes, Students attending SDA School, 12/10/2008

Habele is an all-volunteer IRS-recognized charity, committed to expanding educational options and promoting educational accomplishment in the remote Outer Islands of Micronesia. Since its foundation in 2006 over $10,000 in tutition scholarships have been awarded to K-12 students in the states of Yap and Chuuk. Learn more at www.habele.org

Two of Habele's directors just returned from a three week trip to Yap and the Yap State Outer Islands to promote awareness of the Habele scholarship and book donation programs.

Photos of the trip can be found here.

In addition to meeting with Habele scholarship recipients, the Directors visited with independent school headmasters, public education officials and local community members. Directors also provided an interview to radio hosts at the local station serving Yap State.

"It was great to renew, expand, and intiate new relationships on Yap and in the Outer Islands," said Marc McNamara of the Habele Outer Island Education Fund. "Based on our meetings and planning sessions with public and independent educators we hope to again expand the scope of our efforts in the next school year."

Habele donors will be pleased to hear that all costs associated with the trip, including airfare and lodging, were paid for by the Directors themselves in the form of in-kind donations.

Learn more about the role of Habele in expanding educational access and accomplishment in the Outer Islands of Yap and Chuuk state at www.habele.org.