Yap High School
Yap, Federated States of Micronesia

 

 

    12th Grade Environmental Science and Micronesian Studies Classes                 are fully Engaged in an Extensive Experiential

                                Learning Program at Yap High

                        YHS Science Teacher & GRACE Founder: Molly McAfee-Bandag
                                                 Micronesian Studies Teacher: Mona Layan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

G.R.A.C.E. is a student organization taking responsibility to promote Greater Resource Awareness through Communication & Education. G.R.A.C.E. is currently 188 youth members; (85) YHS alumni, 2014-15 and (103) students currently enrolled in Environmental Science at Yap High School and expected to graduate 2015-16.  Students are all introduced to Permaculture Principles of design through a variety of rigorous integrated projects including site mapping, socio economic survey and complex statistical analysis.  

 

G.R.A.C.E. students understand their dynamic role on the ecosystem and confirm this by pledging to make improvements on their home sites to decrease their negative environmental impact, as formulated in class.  As part of their G.R.A.C.E. efforts student members are soliciting contracts from local agencies and community members for site repair projects, biodiversity surveys and rejuvenation projects such as sea wall, stone path and taro patch regeneration.  These students are also making strides to get involved in the state and national policies that effect sensitive environmental issues facing us today.  November 5, 2015, ten students witnessed a public hearing on Fruit Bat Conservation in an attempt to make all of Yap a sanctuary.

 

In response to this experience, G.R.A.C.E. will make strides to promote the goals under the Micronesia Challenge of protecting 20% of terrestrial resources by spreading awareness in our communities.  Recognizing that bats play a keystone role as pollinators and seed dispersers in local forest ecosystems, GSC has dedicated more than 250 acres of combined lands to be used as a Sanctuary for Biodiversity rehabilitation, Conservation and Preservation of the Native Terrestrial Forest, which will be surveyed, logged and replanted by G.R.A.C.E. students as community service obligation.  These students are representative of the whole island since Yap High School is the only state public high school, every municipality and most villages, including outer and neighboring islanders are represented by G.R.A.C.E.  For this reason we have a greater ability to get environmental awareness and local issues to be heard in the community from the voice of the youth.

 

Identified Environmental & Cultural Concerns

Grace Sustainable Community (GSC) in Gaanelay, Rull have identified loss of traditional culture living practices, traditional land use and resource preservation practices as contributing factor to the declining health and well being of the general community. This relationship is supported through on going studies at Depart of Health, Yap state Hospital, stating the declining health in the island and the adverse effects of imported foods and sedentary lives of the modern working local. Wa’ab used to rely heavily on subsistence farming and Permanent Agriculture practices of traditional land and waterways management that used observations of environmental indicators to interact with the natural resources. However, in very recent history Yapese lifestyle has shifted and respect for these traditions has been compromised.  This trend is leading to decreased quality of health and increased dependency on economic securities of a cash income to buy the imported foods and afford the luxuries of the convenient life. 

 

Many modern Wa’abese are growing accustomed to conveniences like ramen, luncheon meat & soda and enjoy the luxuries like cars, a/c, TV & electronics.  The Island cost for such activities is the contribution to the local impact on environmental degradation, but he biggest cost is the hidden price for these conveniences and luxuries, which is, decreased quality of health and loss of traditional living practices.  Addressing these issues is critical to ensure sustainable livelihoods for GSC members, G.R.A.C.E. student members and all Wa’abese.  According to the statistics generated from the 2015 and 2016 Environmental Impact Survey (EIN) less than 10% of G.R.A.C.E. students are living in a traditional way. The majority of student households and GSC members are grossly dependent on imported foods; petroleum generated municipal utilities for power & heavily treated water.  This is compounded with the current state of the local economy, the (EIN) shows the majority of head-of-households are having low paying sedentary employment, which involves little or no activity.  To compromise the value of culture and traditional living today jeopardizes the future livelihoods and sustainability for us all.  If we continue to resist the value of the traditional living, cultural practice of subsistence agriculture, using the knowledge of traditional land use and preservation of natural resources, we pose threats to the greater integrity and fiber of Wa’abese culture.