Released on: September 2, 2008, 7:40 pm

Press Release Author: Habele Outer Island Education FUnd

Industry: Education

Press Release Summary: An all-volunteer nonprofit in the US has issued scholarships
for isolated students living in the Outer Islands of Micronesia.

Press Release Body: Six decades ago, the remote Pacific Islands of Micronesia were
the site of intense battles between American GIs and entrenched Japanese defenders.
Now the region is better known for hosting the reality television show “Survivor”
and its picturesque palm-lined beaches.

The reality behind the television show is less glamorous. Literacy and life
expectancy are low, even by developing world standards, and the isolation of the
tiny islands poses a major barrier to economic development.

A small group of former Peace Corps Volunteers and American teachers is working to
help.

Their charity, the Habele Outer Island Education Fund, has awarded over $5,000.00 in
tuition scholarships to island students who will attend private schools in the
Pacific this fall. The scholarships are issued to children in grades kindergarten
through high school as part of an effort to promote educational opportunity
throughout Micronesia.

Neil Mellen, a Habele board member explains: “The Secretariat of the Pacific reports
that fewer than a fifth of these islanders have access to acceptable sanitation and
that infant mortality rates are five times higher than those in the United States.
At Habele, our hope is that greater access to education will provide these students
with the tools to help their communities address the problems.”

The six scholarship winners from throughout Chuuk and Yap States will travel to and
from their schools with money raised by their families, and all of the recipients
have signed performance contracts that tie their scholarships to strict academic
targets.

Albert Fong, a native of Woleai who teaches at a public school on Ulithi, reiterated
Mellen’s optimism: “Micronesians are proud of their long and close relationship with
the United States. The role of charities like Habele is powerful. As a nation we
recognize that continued improvements in K-12 education are vital. Working with
local community leaders and traditional chiefs, Habele has a big impact on the lives
of our youth.”

Habele has also sent more than $2,000.00 in books and school supplies to community
libraries this year. The charity works in conjunction with Peace Corps Volunteers
serving in the islands and members of the non-profit Oceanic Society. David Reside,
Country Director for the US Peace Corps in Micronesia said of the scholarships “it
is particularly important that there be opportunities for those students who show
great promise but are at a great disadvantage in accessing continued education.
Habele is addressing this issue by providing modest educational grants to students
from the more remote outer islands, students who might not otherwise be able to
pursue these educational opportunities.”

Habele consists of donors and volunteers from across the United States and the
Pacific. The
Fund operates on a strictly volunteer basis with no paid employees and is still
seeking support for its ongoing public school book drives. Visit www.habele.org to
learn more.
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Web Site: http://www.habele.org

Contact Details: Habele
701 Gervais Street
Suite 150-244
Columbia SC 29201
habele.org