Guam Strives To Help COFA Migrants Better Integrate HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Pacific Daily News/PIR, Apr. 21, 2014) — The governments public safety strike force, which has increased police presence in the villages since it was formed by the governor in January, also is trying to promote closer bonds between village residents. The goal is to encourage residents, including regional immigrants, to take ownership of their villages and build relationships between the public and law enforcement, said Crime Stoppers coordinator Officer Paul Tapao. That can be accomplished through participation in crime watch programs, or through community events such as kickball games. Part of those efforts involve reaching out to regional immigrants, who might otherwise feel excluded from the community, he said. The hardest thing is, of course, they still feel like outsiders, said Tapao. They are part of the neighborhood community and our growing island. Federal treaties called compacts of free association allow regional immigrants from the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia to live in the United States, including Guam. The number of regional immigrants on Guam increased by 66 percent between 2000 and 2010, according to Census data, including an 80.3-percent increase in the number of immigrants from Chuuk State, in the Federated States of Micronesia. More than 11,000 people from Chuuk State live on Guam, according to the census. Community leaders In order to bring migrants into the conversation, said Tapao and Department of Youth Affairs Director Adonis Mendiola, theyve reached out to community leaders and organizations that cater to migrant needs. One of those community leaders is 31-year-old Darrel Akira, who moved to Guam in 2011. Akira, since moving to Guam, has made it his purpose here to help anyone—locals and immigrants alike–in need. What I do is in extension of my service down at my community, he said. Akira said he regularly helps recent immigrants navigate the process of settling in here. That, he said, gives him joy. Thats what I believe, he said. If I can help someone, it will make me happy at the end of every day. He said hes noticed that problems such as substance abuse, truancy and unemployment affect immigrants, but said, given his perspective from the Federated States of Micronesia, he believes something can be done about it. As a Chuukese (man), he said, I know the culture from FSM and can maybe find ideas for good solutions. Helping youths Mendiola said the neighborhood watch programs encourage residents to come together and plan activities, many of which are inexpensive. You dont need much more than a ball, field and maybe some pot luck, he said. Akira said putting these programs out into the community could curb some of the difficulties faced by youths. We hope that it will help all of those bad things, he said. We want to bring a message to them for them to be preoccupied and try some other things other than sitting at home, drinking. Learn the rules The programs also will aim to educate migrants about local laws and policies that newcomers to the island might not be familiar with. As an example, Mendiola said, they plan to distribute literature called Play by the Rules, which is a Department of Justice program. Mendiola said they want to not only translate the brochures into languages accessible to the migrant community, but also translate them orally for migrants who are illiterate. Self-sustaining But it will take more than government leaders and a handful of community members to make the program successful, said organizers. Mendiola said that although government agencies are helping establish neighborhood watch programs, the government involvement should be seen as training wheels that will come off once the programs are up and running. Tapao said those programs are not going to work if the community doesnt get involved. We need people to come out and be a voice, he said, and to listen to ... our message of what were trying to bring to the communities. Act as one Mendiola said he hopes the different village programs connect with each other and share information about crimes in the neighborhood as well as best practices that have worked on a village level. For example, he said, if a crime were to happen in Dededo, he would want to see chapters across the island take an interest in the incident. If you have a cut, your whole body responds, he said. Thats how you know it works. When the whole island hurts, the whole island responds. Head, heart and hand Akira said he hopes the programs promote Ekichu, Tipechu, Angechu, a concept Chamorro residents might recognize as being similar to Inafamaolek. The phrase, he said, promotes the betterment of the whole community. The first part, ekichu, refers to the head. We get together and use whats in our head and give all our ideas to accomplish something, he said. Tipechu calls on people to be committed from their hearts to a common goal. The last part, angechu, refers to the hands and putting head and heart into action. We put our hands together, said Akira. #COFA #migrants #Guam #Micronesia #Micronesians #youth
Posted on: Thu, 01 May 2014 08:32:46 +0000