Attn: We Are Oceania (WAO), 720 North King St., Honolulu HI 96817ajojoscholars@gmail.com (808) 430-2017
Weber Santiago
Roots: Ngeaur & Beliliou, Palau High School: Bel Air High School, Texas College: University of Hawaii at Manoa Major: Economics Status: Junior Pursuing: Bachelor’s Degree Expected Graduation: 2026
BIOGRAPHY
Weber was born and raised in the Republic of Palau on the island of Ngeaur. At eight, he moved to the mainland US for a better education, later graduating high school in 2018, he returned home for the first time in ten years. Missing application deadlines, he enrolled at Palau Community College (PCC) temporarily, but fate (and the pandemic) had other plans. His experience at PCC, coupled with the people, communities, and organizations that he met and joined, has changed the trajectory of his life. He served as Student Trustee for Palau Community College (Board of Trustees) to represent student interests in the college’s penultimate decision-making body. In that role, he oversaw the administration of Palau Community College in accordance with the laws of the Republic, as well as serving as a custodian of the college’s endowment fund with full fiduciary rights and responsibilities as a trustee. It was in this leadership role, above the others, that allowed him the opportunity to witness the power and importance of building robust, local institutions. Weber graduated from PCC with an Associate of Arts (AA) degree in Liberal Arts and is attending University of Hawaii at Manoa pursuing a BA in economics.
During his time in Palau, Weber became involved in sustainable development, nation-building, and growth. He came to understand that as a young nation (30), Palau is considered a Small Island Developing State and faces both internal and external challenges in its journey to economic independence. Through his engagement with local (the Belau Association of NGOs/BANGO), regional (Pacific Islands Association of NGOs/PIANGO), and international non-profits (Grameen Foundation), Weber has grown to embrace the importance of sustainability and localization as non-negotiable parts of development. He observed in his scholarship application, “With few Palauan/Micronesian/Pacific voices in the development space we run the risk of being passengers in our own canoe, tugged by foreign interests and development banks…I intend to be a modern navigator, a navigator who will traverse an ocean of economic turmoil and debt and lead my community to a sustainable future guided by modern advancements and cultural values.”
Weber has been actively involved with the youth movement. He served as Secretary/Board Member for Ucheliaur, a youth/community development organization for and by the people of Ngeaur (Angaur State). In that role, he oversaw and reviewed financial statements/audits, authored program and grant applications, ensured proper use of organization assets, and managed the implementation of strategic plans and goals. He represented the Belau Association of NGOs (BANGO) at the Pacific Islands Association of NGOs (PIANGO) Pre-Council Meeting and at the 9th Council in Nadi, Fiji in which he collaborated with regional network and international partners in drafting the regional CSO accountability framework and other Pasifika-wide initiatives that aim to legitimize local NGOs as development actors. Weber also serves as founding Chairman/Coalition Leader of Bangikoi Society: The Youth 2 Youth Coalition for a Drug-Free Palau (of The Palau Behavioral Health Advisory Council), Palau’s first youth-led coalition to address youth well-being; he works with a network of youth NGOs in the country to address youth self-harm, mental health, and substance misuse. He also served as Youth Representative of Angaur State representing youth and state interests on a state and national level in the Palau National Youth & Cheldebechel Council (formerly known as the Palau National Youth Council).
INSPIRATION
Micronesian problems require Micronesian solutions. Learning from the work of Dr. Joakim Peter and from my own experience, the Micronesian context (and to the individual island context) is unique. In the mental health/substance misuse space, cultural competence is at the core of what we do. Dr. Peter’s life exemplifies this principle through his unwavering dedication to the COFA community. Despite facing significant personal challenges, Dr. Peter’s resilience and determination were evident as he pursued higher education and dedicated himself to improving the lives of Micronesians.
What inspires me most about Dr. Peter’s life is his ability to blend cultural competence with advocacy. His deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by the Micronesian community allowed him to address these issues effectively and empathetically.
Dr. Peter’s legacy motivates me to continue addressing mental health and substance misuse in culturally competent ways and expand this principle to the work I wish to do in economics. His approach underscores the importance of localized solutions that respect and incorporate the cultural contexts of the people they serve. By following his example, I aim to contribute to the well-being of my community, ensuring that our unique needs are met with understanding and compassion.
LEGACY PROJECT
Mental health/wellness and substance misuse are prevailing issues in the Palauan community. Statistics show an uptick in suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, and substance misuse among youths in primary and secondary schools in Palau. Once outside of secondary school, young people no longer participate in the aggressive School Health Screening program and vulnerabilities do not simply go away. In fact, increased pressure in post-secondary education, work, and families/community due to cultural expectations only heighten their vulnerability.
After working within the youth, mental health/wellness, and substance misuse spaces as well as being a young adult myself, I see that these issues are often exacerbated when young people move to pursue their education outside of Palau and are removed from social safety nets and support. As an extension of my current work with Bangikoi Society: The Youth 2 Youth Coalition for a Drug Free Palau, I aim to create the first-ever international network of Palauan students focused on providing virtual and on-campus emotional/wellness support. This initiative, I hope, will later expand to the other Micronesian educational diasporas and generate data necessary to understand and address the unique set of challenges associated with this distinctly Micronesian/COFA educational experience. The following campuses, which house a noticeable number of Palauan students, have been identified as potential sites: University of Guam, UH Manoa, UH Hilo, Eastern Oregon University, and multiple Taiwanese universities.
“Humble leader, kind hearted, warm approach, intellectually curious, roots based values and strong sense of island identity. He proudly represents his organization! Great leadership skills and motivation to improve communities and youth in the islands. As a Bangikoi Society President, he led major infrastructure development to mobilize youth in Palau to stand up the Youth-to-Youth Coalition aimed at improving overall mental health wellness and to reduce harms from substance misuse and other risk behaviors. “ – Everlynn Joy Temengil (Chief, Division of Behavioral Health – ROP Ministry of Health and Human Services)
Weber Santiago
Roots: Ngeaur & Beliliou, Palau
High School: Bel Air High School, Texas
College: University of Hawaii at Manoa
Major: Economics
Status: Junior
Pursuing: Bachelor’s Degree
Expected Graduation: 2026
BIOGRAPHY
Weber was born and raised in the Republic of Palau on the island of Ngeaur. At eight, he moved to the mainland US for a better education, later graduating high school in 2018, he returned home for the first time in ten years. Missing application deadlines, he enrolled at Palau Community College (PCC) temporarily, but fate (and the pandemic) had other plans. His experience at PCC, coupled with the people, communities, and organizations that he met and joined, has changed the trajectory of his life. He served as Student Trustee for Palau Community College (Board of Trustees) to represent student interests in the college’s penultimate decision-making body. In that role, he oversaw the administration of Palau Community College in accordance with the laws of the Republic, as well as serving as a custodian of the college’s endowment fund with full fiduciary rights and responsibilities as a trustee. It was in this leadership role, above the others, that allowed him the opportunity to witness the power and importance of building robust, local institutions. Weber graduated from PCC with an Associate of Arts (AA) degree in Liberal Arts and is attending University of Hawaii at Manoa pursuing a BA in economics.
During his time in Palau, Weber became involved in sustainable development, nation-building, and growth. He came to understand that as a young nation (30), Palau is considered a Small Island Developing State and faces both internal and external challenges in its journey to economic independence. Through his engagement with local (the Belau Association of NGOs/BANGO), regional (Pacific Islands Association of NGOs/PIANGO), and international non-profits (Grameen Foundation), Weber has grown to embrace the importance of sustainability and localization as non-negotiable parts of development. He observed in his scholarship application, “With few Palauan/Micronesian/Pacific voices in the development space we run the risk of being passengers in our own canoe, tugged by foreign interests and development banks…I intend to be a modern navigator, a navigator who will traverse an ocean of economic turmoil and debt and lead my community to a sustainable future guided by modern advancements and cultural values.”
Weber has been actively involved with the youth movement. He served as Secretary/Board Member for Ucheliaur, a youth/community development organization for and by the people of Ngeaur (Angaur State). In that role, he oversaw and reviewed financial statements/audits, authored program and grant applications, ensured proper use of organization assets, and managed the implementation of strategic plans and goals. He represented the Belau Association of NGOs (BANGO) at the Pacific Islands Association of NGOs (PIANGO) Pre-Council Meeting and at the 9th Council in Nadi, Fiji in which he collaborated with regional network and international partners in drafting the regional CSO accountability framework and other Pasifika-wide initiatives that aim to legitimize local NGOs as development actors. Weber also serves as founding Chairman/Coalition Leader of Bangikoi Society: The Youth 2 Youth Coalition for a Drug-Free Palau (of The Palau Behavioral Health Advisory Council), Palau’s first youth-led coalition to address youth well-being; he works with a network of youth NGOs in the country to address youth self-harm, mental health, and substance misuse. He also served as Youth Representative of Angaur State representing youth and state interests on a state and national level in the Palau National Youth & Cheldebechel Council (formerly known as the Palau National Youth Council).
INSPIRATION
Micronesian problems require Micronesian solutions. Learning from the work of Dr. Joakim Peter and from my own experience, the Micronesian context (and to the individual island context) is unique. In the mental health/substance misuse space, cultural competence is at the core of what we do. Dr. Peter’s life exemplifies this principle through his unwavering dedication to the COFA community. Despite facing significant personal challenges, Dr. Peter’s resilience and determination were evident as he pursued higher education and dedicated himself to improving the lives of Micronesians.
What inspires me most about Dr. Peter’s life is his ability to blend cultural competence with advocacy. His deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by the Micronesian community allowed him to address these issues effectively and empathetically.
Dr. Peter’s legacy motivates me to continue addressing mental health and substance misuse in culturally competent ways and expand this principle to the work I wish to do in economics. His approach underscores the importance of localized solutions that respect and incorporate the cultural contexts of the people they serve. By following his example, I aim to contribute to the well-being of my community, ensuring that our unique needs are met with understanding and compassion.
LEGACY PROJECT
Mental health/wellness and substance misuse are prevailing issues in the Palauan community. Statistics show an uptick in suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, and substance misuse among youths in primary and secondary schools in Palau. Once outside of secondary school, young people no longer participate in the aggressive School Health Screening program and vulnerabilities do not simply go away. In fact, increased pressure in post-secondary education, work, and families/community due to cultural expectations only heighten their vulnerability.
After working within the youth, mental health/wellness, and substance misuse spaces as well as being a young adult myself, I see that these issues are often exacerbated when young people move to pursue their education outside of Palau and are removed from social safety nets and support. As an extension of my current work with Bangikoi Society: The Youth 2 Youth Coalition for a Drug Free Palau, I aim to create the first-ever international network of Palauan students focused on providing virtual and on-campus emotional/wellness support. This initiative, I hope, will later expand to the other Micronesian educational diasporas and generate data necessary to understand and address the unique set of challenges associated with this distinctly Micronesian/COFA educational experience. The following campuses, which house a noticeable number of Palauan students, have been identified as potential sites: University of Guam, UH Manoa, UH Hilo, Eastern Oregon University, and multiple Taiwanese universities.
“Humble leader, kind hearted, warm approach, intellectually curious, roots based values and strong sense of island identity. He proudly represents his organization!
Great leadership skills and motivation to improve communities and youth in the islands. As a Bangikoi Society President, he led major infrastructure development to mobilize youth in Palau to stand up the Youth-to-Youth Coalition aimed at improving overall mental health wellness and to reduce harms from substance misuse and other risk behaviors. “ – Everlynn Joy Temengil (Chief, Division of Behavioral Health – ROP Ministry of Health and Human Services)
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