WILMER JOEL
Thirty-six girls from the two-week Tulam Turi Girl STEAM Camp were called to honor last week with certificates at the College of the Marshall Islands.
Master Sergeant John Phillips from the US Embassy told the Journal that the camp was to promote science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) for girls aged six-to-12.
“This is the third iteration stemming from what was two years ago called Wise Hope Summer Camp,” Phillips said. “It was founded and led by Dr. Sandra Hamilton, formerly here at the college. She was from Jamaica and had deep ties to the YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) in both the Caribbean and Canada, so in her time here in the Marshall Islands, she tried to implement some of the programming she did there, with a focus on girls living in Rita because of the high concentration of population there and really trying to bridge educational gaps for girls.
CMI’s Liberal Arts program instructor Mylast Bilimon supervised many of the program activities.
“Two weeks at the end of summer preparing the girls to go back to school and hear from a variety of working professionals working in the STEAM fields, with guest instructors coming to both Life Skills Academy during the first week and here at CMI the second week,” Phillips added.
Phillips said that the field trips also included STEAM-related facilities in Majuro, aimed at encouraging girls to consider historically male-dominated career paths. Over two dozen providers facilitated learning activities, including a visit to the Marshall Islands Journal to discuss democracy and the press’s role in a free society and see the company’s web printing press that produces the print edition of the Journal each week.
Participant Vinete Taake, who is 12 years old, described the experience as ‘fun’ and helpful in teaching them how to work together. She added that she will miss her friends and is eager to return for the next STEAM Camp. Six-year-old Aliantha Laeo said she learned about pictures and stories and, like Vinete, hopes to return for the upcoming camp.
Four students from the Life Skills Academy were team leaders with the camp: Vilisi Boteanakadavu, Trisha Lometo, Villiana William and Rihana Boaz.