Samoa Gets Hit Again
With so much tragedy in the news last week, you may not have seen that a category 3 cyclone (“sustained hurricane winds of 120 mph and...
MicroAid's Next Projects in Peru
Happy Holidays. I am back from setting up the next MicroAid projects in Peru. (A special thanks to Nick Nelson, Melissa Burns, Chelsey...
Peru Planning
Dear friends: 2012 was a good year for MicroAid, we completed the projects in Samoa (canoes and fishing kits), helped hundreds of people,...
And Now: a Word from our Sponsors
Cash donations make the MicroAid work possible—helping victims of disasters return to self-sufficiency. But there are some things that...
MicroAid Builds Canoes for the Village of Matafa’a — 2012
In Matafa’a, one of the most remote villages in Samoa, all their canoes were destroyed or washed away by the tidal wave. For Matafa’a...
MicroAid replaces Fishing Kits in the Village of Salea’a’umua — 2012
When we think of fishing we usually imagine someone casting a line into the water and reeling in their catch. In Samoa, fishing means...
Cavalcade of Canoes
The canoes are done! Sixteen beautiful hand-carved works of art. Now all the kids of the village can get to school in Falese’ela across...
Me, Myself, Matai
It turns out that receiving a chief title, becoming a matai, is a much bigger deal than I thought. If you do not inherit your title, it...
That's Gratitude for Ya
Happy post-Easter. Here in Samoa it’s an all-weekend holiday of church-going and pageants by the children. Friday, Saturday, Sunday,...
Bump, Set, Samoa
So the guys tell me they love to play volleyball. I’ve played some myself, so I think maybe I’ll join them in a pick up game. The court...
Canoe Collage
An unexpected benefit of the project is that the older craftsmen are able to teach all the skills necessary to the next entire...
Nestle's Quick, Samoa Slow
Hankering for a cup of hot chocolate? Grab a can from the shelf and scoop out some powder and add water? Not so fast, American—like...
Samoa Update
All trees chopped down and moved to the finishing area in the village. (Canoe total: 16) Six canoes finished, awaiting outriggers and...
Surviving a Day at the Beach is no Picnic
One day, Tavae asks me if I want to go to “survivor’s beach.” Of course, I don’t understand what he’s talking about, because one: I...
Delivering the Fishing Kits
Salea’a’umau village. When we think of fishing we usually imagine someone casting a line into the water and reeling in their catch. ...
Samoa, Matafa'a Update
Matafa’a canoe project update: All but one tree chopped down and moved to the finishing area in the village. (Canoe total: 16) One tree...
