Steve Hayden, a Peace Corps Volunteer on Onoun Island from 1967 to 1969 returned to Onoun to visit his sponsor family and ended up lending a helping hand to Northwest High School. Steve has revisited his former stomping ground on numerous occasions in 2002, 2005, and 2010. On this trip he brought his wife Diane and together they put their varied skills to the multitude of needs at Northwest High School.
Steve assisted the volunteer maintenance crew to finish wiring the library with lights and fans, and making long-awaited improvements to the cafeteria. One of the important achievement of the volunteer team was in adding a chimney to the cookhouse there so the cooks no longer have to breath smoke all day from the cooking fires. This has been a health issue for the cooks who have developed lung problems from smoke inhalation.
Steve who has a background in financial management and facilitation has put his professional skills to help the administration. He has been helping the principal, Fr. Floren Akkin with the budgeting process. In preparation for the new school-based budget submission, Steve led budget meetings with teachers, staff, and administrators. He helped to develop some spreadsheet tools so the staff can project the food needs for the boarding students. The forms were sent to the Chuuk State Department of Education for their use since they currently have none.
Diane oversaw the organization of the school library donated by the Cuthbert Project. Drawing upon her experience working in a library in Arizona, Diane helped the school to organize their library system into a cohesive system. The books had been partially organized but since they came from many sources which used different organizational systems, there were many problems to be resolved. Working with library supervisor Akilino Elieisar, Steve, students, and members of the community, Diane organized and reshelved all of the books.She then then prepared a written guide containing history, organization, procedures and rules of the library. She concluded by training Akilino on ways to care for and supervise the library.
Before Steve and Diane left Onoun on September 30th, they had given tours of the newly organized library to students, teachers, and community members, who are enjoying the library’s books.
Thank you, Steve and Diane. Northwest High School is grateful!!!
