Economic Empowerment Through Harnessing Technology
Sustainable economic empowerment initiatives deliver benefits at both the societal and individual levels. The council pursues this synthesis by deploying communications technologies to facilitate transnational cooperation and individual participation in the global marketplace. Specific initiatives include:
Training for Remote Work Careers:
The Council provides resources for free online certification in a range of IT disciplines, as well as a network of willing clients seeking the services of certified individuals. With IT Certification, Micronesian islanders will be able to earn a good living through remote work, instead of waiting for industries to bring jobs to them. Critically, the Council will require all companies and agencies providing training to focus on readily transferrable skills, so that trainees retain the power to shape their own futures.
Expanding Opportunities for Artists:
Micronesia boasts a wealth of traditional and contemporary artists across a broad spectrum of disciplines. However, these artists often endure economic hardship due to lack of market access. The Council will help connect Micronesian artists to a diverse pool of art buyers, from interior decorators and set designers to galleries, museums, and collectors across North America and East Asia.
Higher Education Preparation:
The Council provides access to online tools and video lessons to help Micronesian secondary school students with the college admissions process. Resources for students include sortable lists of over 800 U.S. colleges, access to assessments to help determine optimal fields of study, insider tips on how to improve acceptance rates, essay writing strategies, and training to identify and secure scholarship opportunities. All services are provided to eligible students free of charge.
Entrepreneur Coaching:
Through its work creating a transnational online business community, the Council fosters connections between aspiring entrepreneurs in Micronesia, and experienced business leaders in East Asia and North America. This community opens up a vast landscape of new networking opportunities for islanders, while facilitating coaching and business mentorship.
Healthcare:
The US Micronesia Council has initiated conversations with a major healthcare network in Southern California, as well as a network of doctors in Guam, both of which are evaluating ways to expand healthcare resources throughout Micronesia. The initial stage of this collaboration centers on three areas of intense need: cardiology, OB-GYN, and mental healthcare.
