Fanapi [fan.ah.pee] is a Chuukese word (literally translated “islands of the sand”) refers to the low-lying islands located in the Northwest regions of Chuuk State, FSM. The Northwest groups of geographically remote islands include the Pattiw, Namonweito, and Pafeng regions.

Founded by Vidalino Raatior and a team of experts, the Fanapi Foundation was established in December, 2102 as a non-profit organization to support the establishment, funding, and technical assistance for Fanapi Center in Chuuk, FSM to help the Northwest region. The Foundation’s role is simple: to do whatever it takes to support the local efforts by bridging those needs with global resources….all with the goal of empowering self-sufficiency in those fanapi islands.

At the Foundation, we are humbled by the immensity of hope and aspirations of the grassroots movement in the fanapi islands to take ownership of “our problems and our solutions.” Their hope is to create a locally-led Fanapi Center on the main island of Weno to centralize the programs and services in education, community development, healthcare, and economic opportunities for the outer islanders. The Foundation is the US-based bridge for that Center.

The Fanapi Foundation is a sponsored project of the United Charitable Programs (www.unitedcp.org), a registered 501(c)3 public benefit non-profit organization headquartered near Washington, DC. As a program of UCP, we are able to offer tax deductible donations capabilities. We are now implementing the second phase of our approach which is to seek funding for capacity-building training programs for the the fanapi leadership to build the Fanapi Center’s programs and to create more local and global partnerships.

We encourage all sons and daughters of the outer islands living back in the islands and those in Guam, Hawaii, and the U.S. mainland to join our movement.  We welcome all efforts, all talents, all levels of commitment to work with us in improving the lives of people back in the islands. We must unite as a people to help each other, to strengthen our efforts to address the various needs of our people. Register your email  so we can update you on the latest development of our movement. You can also view videos from our islands on our YouTube account (www.youtube.com/fanapicenter), follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/fanapicenter), sign up to receive our news feeds, and network with us on FB group (www.facebook.com/fanapi) or join the Outer Islands Partners (www.facebook.com/outerislands).

We also seek global partners to help build the dream of a multipurpose Fanapi Center (Uuten Ataween Fanapi) that will be centrally located on the main island of Weno to implement the programs and services of the NGO. Please contact us at info@fanapi.org or fill out our online form if you have any questions.

The Fanapi Foundation supports the aspirations of the underserved people from the small and geographically remote islands in Micronesia who live there or have migrated to the United States. These aspirations are focused on four areas of needs:

Educating Tomorrow’s Leaders

Programs to support the improvement of the elementary, secondary, and college preparatory needs of the Fanapi youth. Services will include enhancing school curriculum to fit the unique needs and goals of education for the outer islands which should include cultural preservation, providing professional development opportunities for teachers and principals, parent – teacher workshops on ways to support educational improvement for children, tutoring programs for academically needy students, merit and need-based scholarships.>>Read more

Developing Our Communities One Leader at a Time

The need for a Fanapi Community Center which serves as a hub for community development efforts by coordinating leadership training opportunities for women, youth, and leaders. Staff and volunteers of the Fanapi Center to lead public education workshops and reflection weekends to help the people understand and manage the changes that are occurring in our communities. The Center would also coordinate cultural preservation initiatives to ensure the perpetuation of the rich culture and traditions of our people.>>Read more

Healthcare Programs

Preventive and acute care for the outer islands has been unjustly minimal due to the distance from the hospital and the lack of priorities given by the State to needs of the outer islands. Fanapi Center will fund the building of centrally located health clinics specifically for the outer islanders and collaborate with humanitarian organizations globally to send volunteers to provide direct medical and acute dental care while training the local personnel in basic health care skills.>>Read more

Social Benefit Business Ventures

Using the strategies for social entrepreneurship, the Fanapi Center aims to provide business enterprises that benefit the outer islanders by providing 0n-the-job training for youth employees and generating revenues to support the Center’s programs and services.The Center will serve as a local field partner for Kiva and other globally-based microfinancing organizations to fund promising Fanapi entrepreneurs to operate successful small business enterprises in the community.>>Read more