This one-hour video is a presentation of the stories of eight Micronesians who have left the islands to take up life in the US. Five of them are men, three are women. Many live in the Hawaii, but others live in mainland US. A few have spent long years in the US military. Some have …
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Heart But No Home
We see the homeless all around–those people living in the streets, roaming in the paseo and the parks, sleeping under bridges and in garages. They wander around carrying their belongings in a bag. Sometimes in small groups… even families with kids. They number close to a thousand on Guam. Who are these people? How did …
Beneath Paradise (Domestic Violence)
Roundtable discussion on child abuse and spouse abuse in Micronesia examining the social changes that may be increasing the problem. Features William Eperiam, Joshua Phillip, and Tina Takeshy.
Hitting Hard: Family Violence
When family arguments come to blows, where can women run for protection? Parents and relatives can't help when they live so far apart, and legislation and police fail time and time again to stop the beatings. This video explores the differences between protections from violence in the past and present through the stories of two families, …
Can We Talk, Mom?
Modern families in town can be very busy, with the parents rushing home from work and out again to attend community meetings or social events. Meanwhile, the teenage kids have lives of their own, sometimes living far from the scrutiny of their parents. The modern home can be a lot like a bus station or …
The Job Hunt: Mission Impossible?
For some Micronesians leaving their island in search of a new life and job is a scary, almost impossible mission. What kind of skills does a young Micronesian need to succeed on and off of his island? In this drama, Stan, a young college dropout, is in search of work. He journeys to Guam, hoping to find …
Youth Today: How Can We Help?
What can we do about youth today? This video shows a spectrum of youth groups around Micronesia, church-run and civic, and presents a description of some of their programs. The Bugwol Youth Club in Yap plays a big role in keeping their municipality clean. In Kosrae, the Citrus Training Program tries to provide out-of-school-youth with activities that …
The Strangers Among Us (Parts 2)
Migrant labor wears many faces. In Saipan, there are Filipina entertainers and hostesses, Bangladeshi security guards, Sri Lankan janitors, and Chinese garment workers. Palau, in recent years, has brought in thousands of Asian laborers, including Filipino construction workers who are interviewed in this video. Micronesians, too, have left home in search of opportunities abroad. This video presents, …
The Strangers Among Us (Parts I)
Migrant labor wears many faces. In Saipan, there are Filipina entertainers and hostesses, Bangladeshi security guards, Sri Lankan janitors, and Chinese garment workers. Palau, in recent years, has brought in thousands of Asian laborers, including Filipino construction workers who are interviewed in this video. Micronesians, too, have left home in search of opportunities abroad. This video presents, …
A Matter of Peace, a Question of Justice
Roundtable on how conflict resolution is handled in the courts and how it was done traditionally. Features John Mangefel, Nickontro Johnny, and Emilio Musrasrik.
Reflections on Anger
A look at how Micronesians handle anger and how it sometimes controls them. Reflection on how negative emotions could be dealt with more productively.
Too High
Lyrical documentary on alcohol abuse in the islands, with the title taken from a Daniel Rae Costello song.
Ready for What?
Island people are famous for taking things as they come rather than fretting about the future. But recent disasters have taught us all that there is something to be gained by being prepared to cope. Typhoon Sudal caught Yap unawares a few years ago, and the problems were compounded when many people found themselves without …
You Are Not Alone
Any number of people will tell you that rape and sexual violence are not problems in the islands. Why resort to force, they argue, when opportunities for sexual satisfaction are to be found everywhere one looks. In this video a dozen people of various backgrounds share theirs stories on sexual violence. Although told in such …
Ashes To Ashes
“Ashes to Ashes” describes much more than what remains of a smoked cigarette. It offers testimonies by three young Micronesians to the damage that tobacco has done to a loved one in their family. Their interlocked stories tell of key figures in their lives who died early because of their smoking habit. But if there …
Chasing the Dream
Competitive athletics, even in a small nation like FSM, can be a pathway to the World Olympics. Chasing Dreams traces sports in the life of island people–from the pickup village volleyball game to the all-island league to the regional finals. Sports are more than just fun; they build bodies and character, while teaching discipline and …
A Woman’s Work Never Ends
In Micronesia, a woman's day-to-day life has always been busy. With social responsibilities and a family to take care of, how could it not be? But until recent times, a woman has always had plenty of others around to help share the load. Men did much of the food-collection and heavy labor while sisters, cousins …