Student achievement and the US-Micronesian partnership were on display this week in Yap, as five high schools battled it out in an elimination style robotics competition.

Yap Robo Day was the culmination of a school year long project in which student led teams designed and built robots. The League provides students at remote island schools practical experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).



"Through the Yap Robo League, you the students have turned tiny scraps of metal and plastic into complicated robots that are able to complete complex tasks," said U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular and International Affairs Doug Domenech in a written statement read to attendees. "You can apply the same principles as you continue through life and pursue your own ambitious goals for education and growth in the future."


The event was held at the Yap State Sports Complex and featured teams from Yap High School, Outer Islands High School, Yap Catholic High School, Yap SDA School, and Faith Christian Academy. Students, families, and the public gathered to watch timed matches in which robots raced to pick up colored donuts and place them on goal posts and in corner goals, or scramble to block other team’s robots attempting to do the same.


Both the Yap State Public Service Corporation (YSPSC) and the Pacific Missionary Airline (PMA) fielded corporate partner teams, comprised of staffers who served as teachers and mentors to the students over the course of the school year. Yap’s State Department of Education supported and prioritized the work throughout.


The Yap Robo League was first established in 2011 by Habele, a US-based nonprofit which provided donated robotics kits to two high schools. In 2017 an investment from the Office of Insular Affairs allowed for expansion to a true statewide, student-driven, league.


After a heated series of multi-team qualification games and elimination battles, Yap Catholic High School’s team emerged as the winner, with Outer Islands High School earning a close second place.


A key theme woven throughout the event was the sustainability of the League as a mechanism both for fostering student learning and as a vehicle for unprecedented cooperation among schools, which has extended to sports and other efforts beyond robots. "I said it multiple times throughout the planning process, and it certainly remains true: getting the first year under our belts is the biggest challenge –now it is just a matter of replicating and improving," observed Michael Wiencek, Principal of Yap Catholic School.


Part of the League’s success and key to its sustainability are the partnerships developed between students in Yap and schools in the US. Robotics teams at Chaminade College Preparatory School in Los Angeles, California and South River High School in Edgewater, Maryland in particular provided generous material donations and peer-to-peer technical assistance.



Citing the decades long strategic partnership between the United States and Federated States of Micronesia, US Ambassador to the FSM Robert Riley observed "Robo Day has a special significance in this regard, as private Americans have traveled to Yap to work closely and one-on-one with the next generation on innovative and cutting-edge technology to help set the agenda for Yap’s future. Technology is critical to economic development and private sector development, which in turn is critical to the future of the FSM. Habele has been in the forefront of this effort, establishing capacity and providing peer-to-peer support as Yapese navigate their own path as individuals and communities."

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(Colonia, Yap) Island students have been receiving high tech training in the design and construction of robots as the five high schools of the Yap Robo League work towards their goal of a statewide robotics competition next spring.

Habele’s Director of STEM Programs, Amelia Weiss, first met with participating school leaders on Yap in early December. A series of workshops, site visits, and peer-to-peer trainings followed. Administrators, teachers, and select students from Yap High School, Outer Islands High School, Yap Catholic High School, Yap SDA School, and Faith Christian Academy participated throughout.



In addition to the five participating high schools, staff from the Yap State Public Service Corporation (YSPSC) and Pacific Missionary Aviation (PMA) joined each of the training sessions.

These local industry partners are also building robots in preparation for the all Yap State “Robo Day” scheduled from May 22 of 2018. “It’s clear the students and teachers are highly motivated,” observed Weiss between meetings. “They have the drive, the equipment is coming in, and now we are providing the technical support to help them meet their goals”


Stateside, students and teachers at South River High School in Edgewater, Maryland learned about their peers on Yap. The Power Hawks Robotics Club hosted Habele’s President, Scott Leis, who spoke to the team about the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Yap State, Micronesian culture and the Compacts of Free Association (COFA), which formally link the Freely Associated States (FAS) to the US.

Leis also answered questions from students about how they could support the students at their partner school – Yap Public High School.

“The students at South River High School were eager to learn all about the Western Pacific,” explained Leis. “Few realized the geographical realities of life on a remote archipelago or that there is a long-standing, formal relationship between the FSM and US”.


On the US West Coast, students of the Eagle Engineering Robotics Club at Chaminade College Preparatory High School packed a dozen boxes of donated robotics parts. These will be sent to Yap Catholic High School, which will distribute the equipment to the five participating schools across Yap State.

This donation compliments scores of supplies that Habele has already sent this year, thanks to a Technical Assistance Program grant from the United States Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs (OIA).

“We are thrilled to be helping our peers in the Pacific,” said Coach Tommy Smeltzer of Eagle Engineering. Since 2009, we’ve been proud to support the teams of the Yap Robo League through donations and technical support, and it is especially exciting to see the League continue to grow and thrive.”

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Kolonia Elementary School needs your help!

The school’s library desperately needs books, both for students, as well as for their parents and other community members who enjoy reading.

Kolonia Elementary School (KES) is located in the heart of Kolonia Town, state capital of Phonpei, Micronesia. It serves 600 students, from Kindergarten through Eighth Grade, from all around Pohnpei –including the outer islands. It also enrolls children from the Philippines and Fiji living with their families on Pohnpei, making it one of the most diverse schools in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).


Along with the Principal, Vice Principal and Librarian, KES is served by over 40 dedicated teachers, educators, and regular volunteers. In the fall of 2017, Parent Teacher Association President Richard  Porter reached out to Habele, a US-based nonprofit that organizes financial and in-kind donations for students throughout the Freely Associated States.

Mr. Porter explained:

We are in the process of getting our school's library up and running for all students, but are seriously lacking books for the students…
KES Library would love to have books, especially those catering to Kindergarten through Eighth graders (fiction and non-fiction) to include reference books and magazines.  Any and all donations are greatly appreciated!

You can help put books in the hands of these eager readers.

If you can purchase or gather books, please do so. Then provide Habele with the weight, dimensions, and a rough packing list of the closed box. Habele will mail you pre-paid postage, address labels, and customs paperwork in a sealed pouch to affix to the outside of the box. You can take the box to the US Post Office, bypassing the lines, and drop it off at the counter for its journey to Pohnpei.

If you’d prefer to make a financial donation, then Habele (a US-based IRS recognized nonprofit) will use the money to pay for the shipment of others’ book donations to the school.


Habele was established by former Peace Corps Volunteers –many of them classroom teachers and librarians- and other Americans looking to provide targeted support for students and schools across Micronesia. We are proud of our decade of work advancing educational opportunity through scholarships, exchanges, robotics, extracurricular programs, and assistance to libraries throughout the FAS.

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Celebrating the rich heritage of traditional seafaring in the Pacific region of Micronesia, the Yap Visitors Bureau, in partnership with the Yap Traditional Navigation Society, has announced that the 8th annual Yap Canoe Festival will be held December 8 & 9, 2017 in Colonia.

The two days of festivities will take place at the Yap Living History Museum and will include a parade of traditional sailing canoes, dances, skills demonstrations and a marketplace offering food and handicrafts for sale.

Micronesian scholar and filmmaker Dr. Eric Metzgar will provide the keynote address and present his video, A Voyaging Odyssey, featuring highlights from the 2010 ocean voyages captained by Pwo Master Navigator Ali Haleyalur and Master Canoe Carver Chief Bruno Tharngan. The ocean crossings “rediscovered” the ancient, traditional sea routes between the islands of Lamotrek, Guam, Yap and Palau.


“We are excited that Dr. Metzgar will be joining us along with Ali Haleyalur and Chief Tharngan,” said Don Evans, general manager of the Yap Visitors Bureau. “Dr. Metzgar has spent many years on the Outer Islands of Yap studying the art and history of traditional sailing and is a leading expert in the field.”


Voyaging canoe rides will be offered on Friday, December 8 followed that evening by the traditional dances of Yap that are renowned throughout the region.


On Saturday, December 9, a photographic exhibit of Yap's seafaring history along with other exhibits will be on display. Visitors will also have the rare opportunity to taste the traditional offertory, voyaging, and celebratory foods connected with successful long sea voyages.


“This year’s Canoe Festival promises to be a not-to-be-missed experience for not only canoeists but anyone interested in learning more about the seafaring history and traditions of these remote Pacific islands,” adds Evans.

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(Colonia, Yap) A dozen Micronesian students are headed to prestigious private schools this fall, thanks to Habele K-12 tuition scholarships. These students will attend the independent school of their family’s choosing.

Described as “an investment in human capital,” these grants are funded by donations from former Peace Corps Volunteers, tourists, and other Americans with a personal connection to Micronesia.

Local ownership and sustainability are emphasized throughout the scholarship process by incorporating competition, incentives, and publicity. Habele is an all-volunteer charity based in South Carolina, and relies on private contributions to fund its scholarship programs. Since 2006, Habele has provided nearly $75,000 in targeted tuition assistance for Micronesian students.

Many of the scholars’ families come from isolated islands and atolls spanning Yap and Chuck States. They have been awarded tuition assistance covering 50 to 100 percent of their 2017-18 tuition and fees. These students will attend independent K12 schools on the State Capital islands of Yap, Chuuk and Pohnpei that have among the highest completion rates, test scores, and post-secondary placements in the nation. Most students will be housed throughout the school year with relatives or host families.

The beautiful –and strategically located- islands of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) struggle with isolation and limited natural resources. Comprised of many small islands, languages, and ethnic groups, the Federation was organized in 1986 as an independent republic in free association with the United States. US aid sustains an economy dominated by the public sector. Those bilateral payments are set to expire in 2023.

Habele’s funding is always focused on individual students, not districts or schools. Each year, applications out-pace scholarship awards by nearly ten-to-one. Other Habele efforts include sending thousands of boxes of donated books to public school libraries, providing equipment for school sports clubs and specialty equipment for innovative extracurricular programs.

Established by former Peace Corps volunteers, Habele’s singular mission is the advancement educational access and accomplishment in Micronesian communities. "For a decade now, ambitious Habele scholars have been making their families, teachers, and communities proud through incredible academic achievement," noted a Habele Director. "Extending ambitious students the opportunity to succeed is the simple part."

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Habele scholarship recipients in three Micronesian States are reporting their first quarter grades and have much to be proud of!

The students attend private primary and secondary schools in the FSM capitols through k-12 tuition scholarships awarded by the Habele Outer Island Education Fund.

"This is an exciting time and the hard work of these ambitious students is a source of great pride," explained Stephen Replogle, a Habele Director. "Investments in human capital are essential to growth and prosperity in Micronesia, a strategic US ally spanning the Western Pacific."

Since 2006, Habele has provided over $68,000 in tuition assistance for families, funding individual students, not districts or schools. It has also sent thousand of boxes of donated books for school libraries and provisioned after school and extracurricular programs with specialty tools and equipment

Established by former Peace Corps volunteers, Habele is a US based nonprofit, advancing educational access and accomplishment in Micronesian communities. In addition to tuition scholarships and student exchange programs, Habele supports innovative student mentorship programs, hands-on STEM instruction, and youth athletic leagues.

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Habele scholarship recipients in three Micronesian States are reporting their first quarter grades and have much to be proud of!

The students attend private primary and secondary schools in the FSM capitols through k-12 tuition scholarships awarded by the Habele Outer Island Education Fund.

"This is an exciting time and the hard work of these ambitious students is a source of great pride," explained Stephen Replogle, a Habele Director. "Investments in human capital are essential to growth and prosperity in Micronesia, a strategic US ally spanning the Western Pacific."

Since 2006, Habele has provided over $68,000 in tuition assistance for families, funding individual students, not districts or schools. It has also sent thousand of boxes of donated books for school libraries and provisioned after school and extracurricular programs with specialty tools and equipment

Established by former Peace Corps volunteers, Habele is a US based nonprofit, advancing educational access and accomplishment in Micronesian communities. In addition to tuition scholarships and student exchange programs, Habele supports innovative student mentorship programs, hands-on STEM instruction, and youth athletic leagues.

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Students and families on Ulithi Atoll and Fais Island want to read. Will you send them books?

Stephen Guertler, a Peace Corps Volunteer, hopes you will. Serving as a school based librarian on the Island of Fedraey (Federai), he has sought Habele's help in putting books in the hands of eager Island readers.

Fedraey is a tiny island on the Atoll of Ulithi, an "Outer Island" of Yap State, Micronesia. Guertler and his peers on Falalop, Ulithi, neighboring Fais Island, and the State Capital of Yap Proper, are working hard to provide students and community members with access to relevant reading materials.

Micronesia was liberated from Japanese Occupation in the Pacific War and remains a staunch American ally. The former US dependency is guaranteed millions in structured annual aid and access to US agency funds in return for exclusive US military use and base rights through a “Compact of Free Association.” In practice though, few resources reach the most remote communities, of the sort where Guertler now lives and works.


Along with Palau and the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia is termed a "Freely Associated State" (FAS). These tiny Western Pacific islands and their waters flank the US forward defense perimeter. They dominate international sea-lanes to Southeast Asia and the South Pacific, holding special significance for America's Pivot to the Pacific. They are home to some of the most isolated and traditional communities on the planet.


Habele is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to the advancement of educational opportunities in the remote islands and atolls of Micronesia. Created by former Peace Corps Volunteers, we provide literacy donations, tuition scholarships, student exchanges, and support for extracurricular programs across Micronesia.

It is easy for you to help:

Either, you can gather books, box them up, and send the weight, dimensions, and number of books to Habele (701 Gervais, Ste 150-244, Columbia SC 29201), which will provide you pre-paid postal labels, address stickers and import documentation;
-or-
You can make a financial donation to Habele that will pay for the purchase of books and the costs of sending others' donations! Visit Habele.org and click on the Paypal link to the right.

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Students and families on Ulithi Atoll and Fais Island want to read. Will you send them books?

Stephen Guertler, a Peace Corps Volunteer, hopes you will. Serving as a school based librarian on the Island of Fedraey (Federai), he has sought Habele's help in putting books in the hands of eager Island readers.

Fedraey is a tiny island on the Atoll of Ulithi, an "Outer Island" of Yap State, Micronesia. Guertler and his peers on Falalop, Ulithi, neighboring Fais Island, and the State Capital of Yap Proper, are working hard to provide students and community members with access to relevant reading materials.

Micronesia was liberated from Japanese Occupation in the Pacific War and remains a staunch American ally. The former US dependency is guaranteed millions in structured annual aid and access to US agency funds in return for exclusive US military use and base rights through a “Compact of Free Association.” In practice though, few resources reach the most remote communities, of the sort where Guertler now lives and works.


Along with Palau and the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia is termed a "Freely Associated State" (FAS). These tiny Western Pacific islands and their waters flank the US forward defense perimeter. They dominate international sea-lanes to Southeast Asia and the South Pacific, holding special significance for America's Pivot to the Pacific. They are home to some of the most isolated and traditional communities on the planet.


Habele is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to the advancement of educational opportunities in the remote islands and atolls of Micronesia. Created by former Peace Corps Volunteers, we provide literacy donations, tuition scholarships, student exchanges, and support for extracurricular programs across Micronesia.

It is easy for you to help:

Either, you can gather books, box them up, and send the weight, dimensions, and number of books to Habele (701 Gervais, Ste 150-244, Columbia SC 29201), which will provide you pre-paid postal labels, address stickers and import documentation;
-or-
You can make a financial donation to Habele that will pay for the purchase of books and the costs of sending others' donations! Visit Habele.org and click on the Paypal link to the right.

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A dozen students from across Micronesia will enroll in prestigious private schools this fall with the help of Habele tuition scholarships. Attendance at these schools radically increases the children’s’ chances of completing school and moving on to higher education.

The investment isn’t coming from a top-down government aid program or an influence peddling foreign conglomerate, it arrives care of Habele, a tiny all-volunteer charity funded entirely by individual Americans with a personal commitment to Micronesia.

The students, whose families come from isolated islands and atolls throughout Yap and Chuuk States, have been awarded tuition assistance covering 50 to 100 percent of the cost of their 2016-17 enrollment. They will be attending top ranked independent K-12 schools on the islands of Yap, Chuuk and Pohnpei. Most will live with relatives or sponsors for the length of the school year.

Picturesque and strategically located, the far-flung islands of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) struggle with isolation and limited natural resources. For decades, the crudely named “Office of Insular Affairs” at the US Department of the Interior has managed huge government-to-government payments to Micronesia, making the FSM the world’s largest per capita recipient of US foreign aid. That OIA controlled money has translated into neither broad educational access, nor measured educational accomplishment for most Micronesian students. The void represents a staggering need for privately funded efforts such as Habele's.

Since 2006, Habele has provided over $68,000 in tuition assistance, funding individual students, not districts or schools. It has also sent thousand of boxes of donated books for public school libraries and provisioned after school and extracurricular programs with specialty tools and equipment.

Established by former Peace Corps volunteers, Habele is a US based nonprofit, advancing educational access and accomplishment in Micronesian communities. In addition to tuition scholarships and student exchange programs, Habele supports innovative student mentorship programs, hands-on STEM instruction, and youth athletic leagues.



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Habele’s “LEAD,” or Leadership, Exchange, and Academic Development, is an intensive summer program for Habele scholars with strong potential for future leadership.

Based on the traditional host family model, this program fosters cultural, social and intellectual exchanges between Micronesian students and their American peers. The multilateral approach to developing mutual understanding and cooperation imbues participating scholars with increased perspective and capacity to drive sustainable regional development in Micronesia.

Bertha Hathomar, the 2016 LEAD scholar, is a native to a remote, underserved community in the Outer Islands of Yap State, Micronesia. Following the destruction wrought by Super Typhoon Maysak in 2015, the educationally displaced student received a Habele Tuition Scholarship to attend a prestigious private school in the district capital of Yap. While living with a Yapese host family, Bertha demonstrated tremendous academic focus and ability, earning high marks in all courses of study.

That Habele Tuition Scholarship provided an initial springboard for Bertha’s pursuit of greater social and academic horizons. Then, through LEAD, she further accessed studies and cultural exchanges rarely available to socially vulnerable Outer Island women, spending two months living in the American State of South Carolina.

Formal instruction included courses in filmmaking and cooking and nutrition at the Honors College of the University of South Carolina. Further academic enterprises included preparation for college entrance exams, and visits to local colleges and universities.

Additionally, Bertha enrolled in a variety of arts and crafts workshops provided by the Columbia Museum of Art. While maintaining a full schedule of classes, Bertha made time for guitar lessons, karate classes, and even a dog-training course.

Artistic and cultural exchange played a prominent role in the experience, with the Habele scholar attending a variety of musical concerts, community theater productions, and visiting some of the nation’s premiere museums. These opportunities were complemented by regular participation in the day-to-day lives and social activities of a diverse group of American families.

Leadership development was a consistent theme of the LEAD program. Bertha interacted with local and national leaders, including Katrina Shealy, an accomplished female State Senator from South Carolina who consistently advocates for vulnerable communities.

She also met Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen, American Samoa’s delegate to the United States Congress, and a voice for the international development of democratic institutions. During a trip to Washington, DC, Bertha visited the Federated States of Micronesia’s Embassy, meeting with officials from her national government.

Established by former Peace Corps volunteers, Habele is a US based nonprofit, advancing educational access and accomplishment in Micronesian communities since 2006. In addition to tuition scholarships and exchange programs, Habele provides targeted support for schools, libraries and innovative extracurricular programs.

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