Tabuaeran, also known as Fanning Island, is a remote and beautiful atoll island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and part of the Republic of Kiribati. There are around two thousand inhabitants of the island and three primary schools, the largest of which is NCL Primary School.
We were lucky enough to visit Fanning Island in February 2016 and held songwriting workshops at NCL that focused on both English Language skills and reinforcing cultural and island identity. You can read more about the trip and our workshops here.
The students also wrote penpal letters in the hope that pupils from other schools in other countries would write back to them. We carried these with us as we sailed on to the Marshall Islands, some two thousand miles away. There, we linked up with two schools – Majuro Cooperative School and Uliga Elementary School. We facilitated songwriting workshops and the students wrote back to their new friends on Tabuaeran.
We welcome other schools who are interested in building relationships with the fantastic students of NCL Primary School. We can send the letters from the students for you to reply to (via email), or you can write an initial letter and send it to them. The school year runs from January to December.
Some scientists predict that Tabuaeran, and many similarly low lying islands, will be uninhabitable within the next thirty to fifty years. A penpal link with students on the island may be a good way to discuss climate change with your class.
Please email tabuaeranproject@transformancemusic.org if you are interested in getting involved.
