May 2024

Pura Vida Palau and Palauan Made, a successful mother-daughter small enterprise and BELUU Innovation Grantee from Palau, hosts book club meetings currently centered on concepts from the book “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” for fellow entrepreneurs interested in improving their marketing and financial literacy skills. 

BELUU WAVES in Palau: Women's AdVancement for Economic Sustainability Learning Session held last May 7-8, 2024. Ambassador Jessica C. Lee from the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the Republic of Palau and Andrew J. McLean, Deputy Chief of Mission from the U.S. Embassy Koror provided their welcome messages. 

The following speakers and corresponding themes were included as part of the session: Circular Economy and Building Resilience Facilitated by Ilebrang Olkeriil, Owner of IO Business Services, Social Media for E-Commerce Facilitated by Ltelalk Fritz, Owner of WillBSoil Palau, Farming as a Business Addressing Food Security Facilitated by Benjamin Ming-Je TSAI from the Taiwan Technical Mission, Gender Equality and Addressing Gender-Based Violence in Palau Facilitated by Elilai Ngirmang, Lawyer and Human Rights Activist, and a Gender Action Planning Workshop by the BELUU team.

BELUU DEEPR Launch in Palau: After lunch on May 8, participants moved to DOUREOR Co-Working Space for the DEEPR Host launch. Here a live demo on the DEEPR platform was conducted by the BELUU team. Palau Entrepreneurs for Growth was formally introduced as the DEEPR Host in Palau. They provided their guidelines and invited participants to use their space as well as available computer to access DEEPR content materials that may be useful for their project implementations.

The team conducted stakeholder meetings with innovation grantees and applicants: Omung Association, Club Urdmau, Living All Inclusive in Belau, EmeralDreams, Belau Wellness Center, CRIS Alliance, and Belau National Museum, to provide mentorship support and understand the local context better. The team was joined by representatives from our donor the US Department of State, Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues - Regina Neal, Foreign Affairs Officer and Atlee Chait, Economic Assistance Coordination and Evaluation Specialist, Global Programs.

BELUU WAVES: Women's AdVancement for Economic Sustainability Learning Session and DEEPR Launch: Held last May 14-15, 2024 at the College of the Marshall Islands in Majuro, RMI, members from women's business groups, civil society organizations, women entrepreneurs, academe, and WEE advocates were able to join the event. A total of 16 people participated on both days. First Secretary Catherine Cheng of the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Acting Charge d’Affaires Tony Grueber from the U.S. Embassy in Majuro provided welcome remarks. It was overall a fruitful learning and cultural exchange.

The BELUU team hosted the following themes as part of the session:

• • • Learning Session 1: Women Empowerment in the Marshall Islands facilitated by Zoya Tayag, Manager of the Investment Promotion & Business Development Unit of the Office of Commerce, Investment, and Tourism and Lead Coordinator for RMI’s WEE Working Group

    • Learning Session 2: Women Economic Empowerment in the Micronesian Region facilitated by Kathryn Relang, Country Focal Officer for RMI of The Pacific Community’s Human Rights and Social Development Division

BELUU WAVES: Women's AdVancement for Economic Sustainability Learning Session and DEEPR Launch: Held last May 21-22, 2024 at the University of the South Pacific Nauru Campus. Representatives from women's business groups, civil society organizations, women entrepreneurs, academe, and WEE advocates were able to join the event. A total of 14 people participated on both days. Mr Daniel Muffley, Political Officer, of the U.S. Embassy in Fiji, Kirbati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu, provided welcome remarks. It was overall a fruitful learning and cultural exchange.

The BELUU team hosted the following themes as part of the session:

• • • Learning Session 1: Challenges and Opportunities of Women Entrepreneurship in Nauru facilitated by Alamanda Lauti, Director of the Nauru Chamber of Commerce and Honorary Consul of Germany to Nauru

    • Learning Session 2: Learning about the Blue Economy of Nauru and the Available Opportunities facilitated by Being Yeeting, Fisheries Advisor of Nauru’s Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources

  • The formal launch of the DEEPR Platform in Nauru was covered by the Nauru Media News - NTV. Link to the report can be found [here]