Ri-Katak is the Marshallese word for “person who studies,” roughly translated. Katak is the word for study and Ri is a type a prefix meaning “person,” so it’s like the English word “student” in this case. Another example of the use of the word Ri would be Ri-belle (white person), Ri-Majol (Marshallese person) and Ri-kaki (teacher or person who teaches). The students who attend school on Kwajalein, but reside on the nearby island of Ebeye are called Ri-Katak students. The Ri-Katak program here on Kwajalein was started back in the late 1980’s to foster positive relationships between the base and their host nation. The main focus of the program is to contribute to the education of the Marshallese by allowing 5 students from Ebeye to enter into the Kwajalein School System each year.
In order to do this, there is a screening process at the end of every school year to choose the 5 students out of the top 25 students at the Ebeye schools who have completed a year of kindergarten on Ebeye to come to Kwajalein the following school year. So, at any given time, we could have up to 65 Marshallese students commuting from their home island every day to attend K-12 classes on Kwajalein. As the program has grown over the years, other on island activities have been added to support their educational and all around development, such as the CYSS (Child, Youth, and School Services) sports program for K-6th graders and privileges such as participating in Youth Center activities after school instead of taking the LCM straight back home as when the program fist began and school events were the only ones sanctioned for them to participate in.
As far as our sports programs go, Ri-Katak participation has actually become vital to its success as the population here decreases and fewer children are signing up for after school sports than we used to see. It’s an important program we want to help preserve, especially in these very uncertain transition times on the island, so we decided to set up a meeting with Ri-Katak parents and children on their home island of Ebeye tonight to talk to the parents about the CYSS programs, fill out registration paperwork, and generally answer questions parents may have and encourage them to come over and support their kids sporting and after school events. Last year, I began these meetings in relation to the school and the children’s academic success specifically, and they were very successful, so this year we are expanding the meetings to include CYSS because it’s beneficial to the students as well as Kwajalein’s programs to have the students be well-rounded, participating in academic, athletic, and after schools clubs and such.
For me, the Ri-Katak program has become somewhat of a “baby” to me, career-wise. I have always been very involved in education in the Marshall Islands, starting with my professorship at the College of the Marshall Islands over 12 years ago, and filtering into other college English and teaching programs as well as professional development for RMI (Republic of the Marshall Islands) teachers and finally, the last couple of years, working with the children of the adults I’ve taught on Ebeye for so many years. Because so much of my life and career has been dedicated to education in the RMI, I have a hard time living here and performing a job that does not contribute to that in some way or another. In other words, whenever I do not have an opportunity to work or help on Ebeye for a period of time, I begin to really miss it. That means even when my job does not directly require it, I always find a way to bring Ebeye back to me.
Before my job here at the school, I was the 4-H Liaison for CYSS, and I started an Ebeye Citizenship Club between the older elementary kids here and there, helping them get to know each other and share their culture and traditions in a fun and educational way. Last year, I became heavily involved in helping with the Ri-Katak kids after school and assisting them in the classroom as the ELL (English Language Learning) teacher, and now I am in transition, job-wise, again, but the Ri-Katak families and the rest of the Marshallese living on Ebeye will always be a part of me, and I will continue to serve them in whatever way possible and make their experiences with Kwajalein and Americans the most positive I can as they’ve made my years here the most inviting and memorable.
I was telling my colleagues last night on the walk back to the boat that I’m always up for scheduling a work or play trip to Ebeye as it’s like a “vacation” for me. I know that sounds funny because I’m usually on business when I’m there, but it’s my home away from home; it’s a respite from the sometimes isolating “small town” life on Kwaj that can just get under your skin. I always feel welcome on Ebeye. I am trusted by my friends and colleagues there, and I know how I serve there does and can make a difference, and more than that, it’s appreciated in ways that touch my heart unlike any other job has ever been able to do. Life is not easy for them on Ebeye, which is often called the “slum of the Pacific” due to it’s third world conditions, and especially for the families who live between two cultures daily with a job or school on an American military base, and a personal and family life in the heart of the RMI on the evenings, holidays, and weekends. So, hat’s off to my Ebeye friends and the Ri-Katak families. You are truly incredible, and keep up the good work! You and your kids are fantastic!
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