GUÅHAN, Marianas — I Hagan Famalåo’an Guåhan offered nearly $30,000 worth of tuition fees as a stepping stone to assist families who were interested in enrolling their children in Chief Huråo Neni Academy for SY 2022-2023.
With the Pawanka Fund, I Hagan Famalåo’an Guåhan awarded eight children with financial assistance, taking away the burden of their families towards an indigenous CHamoru education experience. Chief Huråo Neni Academy is a preschool program that promotes and teaches the CHamoru language, culture, and values to children ages 3-4 and their families.
“Gof bonitu sa’ ocho na famagu’on, ocho na familia ta sesen ayuda na sakkan. Guaha giya siha ilek-ñiha na sin este na salappe’…ti siña manmatto. Pues otro mås eyu na famagu’on, famagu’on CHamoru ni para ta ayuda i hinanao-ñiha. Pues un dangkolo na si Yu’os ma’åse. In tingo’ na ti ma gof komprende ni famagu’on sa’ hafa na manggaige guini pa’go låo siempre i mañaina…mås masiente,” President/CEO Saina Ånimu Angelana Sablan stated before the presentation of the award certificates to the children.
After the presentation of awards, Founder Saina Anna Marie Arceo concluded the ceremony by expressing her gratitude: “We’ve only dreamt of scholarships before or this kind of gift to be able to help parents. We need to start investing in the next generation because we’re not going to be here forever.”
This could not have been possible without the Pawanka Fund, an Indigenous-led fund making an effort in supporting indigenous people’s initiatives engaged in promoting and protecting traditional knowledge, well-being, rights and self-determined development. It is through this initiative that I Hagan Famalåo’an Guåhan is able to aid in the efforts of promoting, preserving, and revitalizing the CHamoru language and culture.
“We are grateful that Pawanka’s doors opened up because this grant is not gender-specific. This provided us with an opportunity to serve CHamoru children of all genders. This is a proud moment for our people,” stated Co-Mañelu of I Hagan Famalåo’an Guåhan Elyssa J. Santos.
I Hagan Famalåo’an Guåhan is a nonprofit organization founded on the collective mission to enhance, promote, protect and foster the social, economic, cultural, spiritual and political well-being of CHamoru women, girls and gender-diverse people within the overall Guåhan community.
I Hagan Famalåo’an Guåhan has awarded eight children with financial assistance so they can participate in a preschool program that promotes and teaches the CHamoru language and culture.
