Six months ago, a few college students approached us for help. The ask was to create a space that would embrace their heritage, expand their college experience and transform their lives.
The result was the formation of a sisterhood/sorority, a first of its kind for Pacific Island students. We facilitated a series of meetings to discuss process and direction; allowed for the students to contribute, craft and steer the direction of their organization. These series of meetings birthed the organization of PELE: The sorority of Oceania. (ΡΣΓΣ: Rho Sigma Gamma Sigma)
Over the course of a 7 week pledge process, 7 young women (Hinas) competed in the following criteria:
1. Pacific Studies education: Immersion in a crash course of reading material which include top Pacific scholars, artists and progressive thinkers such as Epeli Hau'ofa, Teresia Teaiwa, Albert Wendt, Sia Figiel, TuiAtua Tupua Tamasese. Hinas presented papers and have had rigorous discourse on historical and current issues affecting the Pacific region and its people on island and in the diaspora.
2. Launched a climate change campaign to promote recycling. Carried oversized bags/decorated purses across their respective campus for the entire pledge season and talk to other students about the campaign. Hinas were responsible for taking recyclables weekly and banking receipts for their recyclables. Fundraiser Goal: $200.00/person
3. Planned and executed a print-media campaign to raise awareness of Pacific Islands issues such as climate change and its affect on sinking islands. Pele made frontpage news in the CSULB Daily 49er newspaper on Earth Day, April 22, 2010.
4. Spearheaded a global reach to Pacific regional partners and built a network of support for education with new partners such as YPCN: The Young People's Concerned Network a pro-democracy grassroots network.
5. With the help of brother organization TOA: Tau Omega Alpha, the fraternity of Oceania, PELE Raised US $1100.00 for Fiji students displaced by Cyclone Thomas which devasted several islands and damaged schools. The money raised will go towards the purchase of stationary and textbooks for 5000 students.
6. Hina's presented papers at a panel on climate change and global warming awareness for Earth Day 2010.
7. Created new media presentations (photoessays, film, etc) and expand social-media marketing (Facebook, twitter) to present individual and collective ideas.
8. PELE participated in community solidarity rallies/protests: Anti-Nazi Rally 4/27/10, and May Day Immigration rally 5/1/10,
9. Each member continuing to build on a geneological family tree that dates back a minimum of 4 generations.
We are very proud and pleased to present to the community PELE's first seven TAUTAI/Sea Empress:
Angel Fa'amausili (CSULB); Monique Mata'utia (CSULB); Melerelini Letuli-Ioane (LBCC); Lemasani Va'afuti (LBCC); Faaputu Va'afuti (CSULB); Evelyn Suai (LBCC); Jocelyn Faasee (CSULB).
You can expect any PELE member who has earned the title of TAUTAI/Sea Empress to be ready to serve our community from the knowledge gained from this enhanced college experience along with the power they inherited from the Oceanian ancestory.
Our Tautai/Sea Empresses, the guardians of Oceania will be crowned today with the PELE arsenal of: fire, water, wind, and earth.
We could not have done this without the love and support of our community.
In Mana and Gratitude.
This was very interesting. Thanks for sharing. So often one is only indulged in what's around them, not realizing so much more exist in this colorful world of cultures. Congratulations to the Sorority of Oceania.~
ReplyDeleteDoes this sorority still exist on the CSULB campus?
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