A year ago Waan Aelon in Majel lost its building to a fire. Last week, WAM broke ground for a new building that will be constructed with the help of Majuro Atoll Local Government, the United States and Australian governments, Council of Indigenous People of Taiwan, K&K Island Pride Supermarket, Iroojlaplap Mike Kabua, MISCo and […]
A well-attended graduation ceremony last week celebrated the completion of three new boats built locally for remote outer atolls. Waan Aelon in Majel (Canoes of the Marshall Islands) completed its fourth Low Carbon Lagoon Transport Boatbuilding Workshop. Last week’s graduation showed off the work of Timius Torelik (Namu), Waihee Hanchor (Wotje) and Job Jibok (Maloelap) […]
It took four friends four days to learn a new trade and create local coconut graters from scratch. Such is the story behind four classmates from Marshall Islands High School during their practicum program at the Waan Aelon in Majol (Canoes of the Marshall Islands) program earlier this month. The girls, Miram Paul, Sisteria Baso, […]
EVE BURNS Waan Aelon in Majel (WAM) suffered a devastating fire recently that destroyed its office and workshops. In an outpouring of solidarity with WAM, local and international donors from every direction have put up their hands to help with the reconstruction. Monday this week, Australia joined other donors to support WAM rebuilding efforts through […]
GIFF JOHNSON Fires have long been the scourge of Majuro and Sunday’s blaze that destroyed the Waan Aelon in Majel (Canoes of the Marshall Islands) two-story offices and workshops proved that point.Firefighting equipment and know-how is rarely able to stop a fire in progress. The best that can be hoped for in Majuro is that […]
The US Embassy hosted an art exhibition at the Ambassador’s residence earlier this month, an event that brought together students from four Majuro high schools with NGOs Jo-Jikum and Waan Aelon in Majel. The students viewed both locally made works of art that were displayed in the outdoor ground floor deck area under the main […]
GIFF JOHNSON Marshallese style boats are being designed and built by skilled builders in the Marshall Islands, naturally enough, but also in places that one might not expect, such as Europe. Here in Majuro, Waan Aelon in Majel has designed and built what they call a “carro proa.” The WAM team built it in three […]
GIFF JOHNSONIn the consultant-dependent world of the Marshall Islands, the Waan Aelon in Majel (Canoes of the Marshall Islands) program stands out.“Everyone who works at WAM is Marshallese,” said Director Alson Kelen in a recent interview. “WAM is about training,” he said. “It’s what we do.” While the program has relied in the past on […]
EVE BURNS Waan Aelon in Majol (WAM) is working on new locally-designed catamarans and outrigger canoes to improve the movement of copra and people within atolls An ongoing challenge for copra collection in remote atolls is the time needed for government field trip vessels to stop at multiple islands within one atoll to collect copra. […]
EVE BURNS Nineteen students graduated last week Friday from Waan Aeloñ in Majel (WAM) vocational/ life skills training. It was a hot, beautiful day and many parents and friends came to witness the achievements that of the students and the awards they received. Biwij John blessed the event with the opening prayers. Rosana Ali, one […]
