Program Updates from Kosrae

Kosrae TASIK Update: February 2024 

The second phase of the Transformative Advocates for STEAM Innovation & Knowledge (TASIK) Kosrae meeting has started by finalizing the Spring and Summer session activities engaging elders and youth. The partner coordinator, youth advisor, and PREL staff have agreed that the following activities be executed this year.  

Kosrae TASIK plan will involve 25 youth members, 10 elders, 4 partner organizations, and a PREL staff. The Kosrae Historic Preservation Office (KHPO) under Kosrae Island Resource Management Authority (KIRMA) is still leading this year’s project.  KHPO, Youth Advisor, PREL staff, partner organization, and elders will kickstart its first meeting to rekindle the TASIK momentum with youths and elders. The purpose of the meeting was to introduce everyone and get everyone on the same page on the direction and way forward of the Kosrae TASIK project.  

For the Spring weekend /after working hours activities, the team along with elders and youth have agreed to focus on canoe prototyping and actual production of large size canoes. They have also decided to conduct sessions on rope making, storytelling, weaving, and local culinary, too.  These activities will also be implemented during and after spring learning exchange sessions.  

The TASIK team suggested field trips engaging youth to identify needed resources and to learn to gather the best woods, materials, and equipment for canoe making and prototyping, rope making, and other activities proposed. Mr. Metson Fred will be the lead knowledge holder in teaching the youths on the rope making process. TASIK youth and Mr. Fred have already scheduled the week of 19^th February 2024 for the first step in gathering the materials needed for the process. The way forward will be on waiting for the first step to be done then the process of making the actual local rope will come next.