Sakura Edward walks into the big A-frame building at Waan Aelon in Majel (WAM), confidently picks up an electric planer and begins to work. The 23-year-old was born on Ebeye and then lived for a few years on Wotho. She then went to Delap Elementary School and Marshall Islands High School, finishing in 11th grade. “After I dropped out, I went to the GED program and while she finished the five levels and passed the diploma side, she failed her English test.”
A few years of not doing very much went by, until she was accepted at the Juren Ae program, which is run by Internal Affairs and is a four-month training, focusing on making handicrafts and learning sewing techniques. Its program is on the Ministry of Education campus, next to WAM.
“While I was at Juren Ae, I would come over to WAM and watch what they were doing and became interested. So when I heard there was a training program coming up, I applied.
“One of my favorite things about the program is the activities, especially learning how to use the tools to build canoes. I also loved the English and Math stuff and the counseling part.” The latter is counseling on both a group and individual basis, which is run by Cece Kilma and Tolina Tomeing. They also work for WAM’s Employer Assistance Program, which is funded by the US-funded Single Stage Agency through its Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment program.
When Sakura graduates, she hopes to find a job, “so I can make some money so I can afford to go back to school and finish my GED and then go on to college.
“My goal is to be a teacher. I believe I can improve the level of education at my home atoll of Wotho.”
