Waan Aelon in Majel (Canoes of the Marshall Islands) 2014 Final Report

"Waan Aelon in Majel (Canoes of the Marshall Islands) (WAM) is a grassroots non-profit, non-government organization that trains Marshall Islands youth based on the traditions of the Marshallese canoe. WAM provides vocational and life skills training to youth-at-risk using the medium of traditional outrigger canoes, boat building, carpentry and woodworking. The program links the new generation with the old, working together to keep this unique aspect of Marshallese culture alive, while simultaneously addressing serious social problems affecting youth in Marshallese society. The WAM mission is to work with youth, their families, and the local and international community to perpetuate and safeguard Marshallese culture and tradition through canoe building and sailing, and through this cultural linkage develop life skills, and modern work skills that create meaning in the lives of all participants. Established in 1989, WAM has strong support from the RMI government and society and is well recognized internationally for its history of successful programs. The RMI Historic Preservation Office (HPO) awarded WAM program a total sum of USD $21,638.00 to support the construction of one full sized sailing canoe and five small-scale canoe models as well as documentation of the building process. As mentioned in the contract, the HPO program was to coincide with a WAM's six-month program. The program structure includes a training manager, an English/Math teacher, a male and a female counselor, a cultural/canoe master builder/trainer, and an assistant trainer. This program takes young men/women between the ages of 17 and 25, and at this time the maximum entries is 25." Project funding was provided in part by a Historic Preservation Fund grant to the Marshall Islands State Historic Preservation Office, Ministry of Internal Affairs, administered by the Pacific West Regional Office, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Waan Aelon in Majel (Canoes of the Marshall Islands) 2014 Final Report

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