Category: Message Board

April Trainee of the Month Darween Gideon. Photo: Sealend Laiden

The WAM Life Skills/Vocational Training Program of 2018 is off with a great start with Darween Gideon as our April Trainee of the Month. He was recognised for this award because of his perfect attendance, his good participation in class discussions and workshops, as well as his vocational projects are always well done and completed on time.

Darween lived on his family island of Mejit until 2010 at which time he came to live in Majuro with his Father and siblings. His goal after graduation from the WAM program is to go back to school and get his GED.

Great job Darween, awesome goal!

WAM has a new look to its logo showing off the colours of the islands and the website address. At the same time we wanted to share that the WAM facility was updated with fresh paint to our buildings inside and out and some extra windows in the classroom for ventilation. This is all in preparation for another great year!

GEF Trainee Maston John was trainee of the month for March. His father’s family is from Enewetok and his mother’s family is from Majuro.  He and his wife along with their two daughters are living here in Majuro. He is very happy to be able to increase his skill level in carpentry by participating in the GEF program at WAM.

GEF Trainee of the Month Maston John for March. Photo: Suemina Bohanny

GEF Trainee Oliber Mack was trainee  of the month for February. His family is from Aelõñlaplap and his wife and son are living with him here in Majuro. He is very happy to be able to increase his knowledge and talents by participating in the GEF program at WAM.

February GEF Trainee of the month Oliber Mack with wood hammer the first project for use in future creations. Photo: Sealend Laiden

WAM’s new updated Logo

These are exciting and busy times at WAM as we prepare for the 2016 Vocational/Lifeskills Trainee Achievement Award Ceremony. This event will be held Thursday, 29th September, 2016 at 10am under the tree at MIR. Visit our website again soon as we will relate how the event went and have pictures to share.

WAM has T-Shirts in three styles. Vertical logo with canoe logo on back (yellow). Stick chart on back (black). Canoe on back (orange).

If you don’t already have a WAM T-shirt, it’s time to buy one! Stop by the WAM office and take your pick of sizes and colors. Check our other products at https://www.canoesmarshallislands.com/wam-products/

WAM will have a range of its traditional products for sale at the Jambo Arts 10th Mixed-Media Exhibition on Friday, November 20. The products will include pounders, model canoes, graters, stick charts, and ever-popular colorful WAM Tee-shirts. The venue will be the Jitak Club in Delap. Schools will visit during the day, with the main show being held in the evening. The theme is ‘Tree of Life’. To help support Jambo Arts you can donate art supplies or make a personal donation. If you would like to donate. please mail your donation to: Jambo Arts, PO Box 1453, Majuro, MH 96960 Marshall Islands.

All are welcome to attend the WAM graduation at 3pm on Friday, October 2, 2015. There will be 20 proud trainees graduating at the ceremony, which will be followed by conversation and snacks. We are also proud to announce that at least six of the trainees will move straight into employment!

The Customary Law and Language Commission (CLLC) in partnership with the Ministry of Education will be hosting a cultural event on Thursday evening, March 26, at CMI promoting Marshallese language and culture.  The program will be in two parts: cultural displays in the old library from 5:00-9:00 pm and, at 6:00 pm, short speeches from participating organizations, including WAM, at the basketball court. A bento dinner will be served in the old library until 9 p.m.

The event is intended to explain the importance of Marshallese language and culture in bilingual education and will introduce CLLC’s Bilingual and Bicultural Education Project in support of revised MOE Language Education Policy.

This event is open to the public.  Come to the old library to see WAM’s display of traditional Marshallese products including stick charts, ceremonial paddles, and model canoes .

This is the place to find out everything that we’re doing at Waan Aelon in Majel (Canoes of the Marshall Islands). Take a tour of the site and then be sure to stop by again soon to see what’s new!

Canoes will be zipping across the lagoon on Saturday, February 21, when Mayor Mudge Samuel of the Majuro Atoll Local Government sponsors a series of canoe races. There will be two canoe divisions competing, plus a riwut (miniature canoe) division.  The races will be part of the Majuro Atoll 2015 Liberation day celebration. First to race will be the riwuts at 1:30pm. Their course will be from Enearmij Island (the V7AB antenna island near Ejit) to Delap. Both divisions of canoes  (14-18 feet and 18-24 feet) will begin their races shortly after the finish of the riwut race. The courses will be decided on the day of the race, depending on wind speed and direction.