Supporting Young Island Readers – COM-FSM Class of 2035
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COM-FSM is proud to support ‘Young Island Readers’, a program which offers all children born on Yap one, new, age-appropriate book each month until their fifth birthday. Books are mailed, individually wrapped, to the family’s post office box.
This is possible through a partnership between Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and Habele, a 501c3 nonprofit serving students across Micronesia.. The Imagination Library offers children free, home-delivered books through collaborations with local nonprofits. In Micronesia, Habele is that local partner. In 2020, the program will be piloted in Yap with the vision to expand across all FSM States in the coming years.
In 2020, all children born on Yap Proper will be eligible so long as they remain domiciled on Yap. This includes the significant population of outer islanders residing on Yap. To enroll, the parents simply complete a one-page form and provide the child’s date of birth and the family PO Box. Forms are available at Yap hospital in English, Yapese and Woleian.
COM-FSM’s recent donation of $15,000 was matched dollar for dollar by Professor Roger Gale, a long-term supporter of the people of Micronesia. Together with donations from diverse individuals, these funds allowed Habele to launch the program and provide books for the next five years to all the children who sign up over the next twelve months.
Giving is perhaps most important when it is most difficult; this donation is a direct, high yield investment in our future students by the college, and a manifestation of our commitment to the success of the FSM as embodied in our mission. Young Island Readers aims to serve as a direct, efficient, and empowering model for developing early literacy across the FSM.
We look forward to welcoming these readers at COM-FSM in 2035!
Contact:
Habele Outer Island Education Fund, US 1 803 586 2358, FM 1 691 952. 7736
