Dear IDOF Supporters,
We wanted to give you an update on I Dream of Fish and what we have been planning during these past few months.
Due to recent times with the global pandemic, we have been trying to find a way to continue our efforts in helping people in need. We have had to put a hold on any new international projects due to Covid-19, which turned our efforts towards more local needs within the United States.
Hawaii currently has the highest rate of unemployment in the entire United States. The state has been hit hard due to the pandemic, with tourism being the state’s top industry. Sadly, indigenous Hawaiians suffer disproportionately from homelessness and poverty.
I Dream of Fish has been researching Hawaiian organizations that are in line with our mission to invest in youth, education, and ending world hunger. NALU Studies is a non-profit organization based in Hawaii whose mission is to educate at-risk youth on making responsible decisions for themselves, their communities, and the environment as future leaders. Their emphasis on the value of sustainable aquaculture by connecting modern science to indigenous cultural practices felt like the perfect match for IDOF.
I Dream of Fish is excited to support a $25,000 grant to NALU Studies which will help fund three student cohorts in 2021 during the Spring, Summer and Fall sessions. 30-60 students will go through this program where they will learn about aquaculture, indigenous cultural aquaculture practices of Hawaii fishponds, culminating in a research paper and a presentation at a public symposium. Students from the first cohort will be mentors for the following session, highlighting the importance of giving back to the community.
We want to thank all of our I Dream of Fish supporters, especially our monthly donors, for making this grant possible. I hope this grant can be one of the many ways we can continue helping kids in need. If you would like to continue to support our efforts to end world hunger, please donate here.
To learn more about NALU Studies, https://www.thepaf.org/portfolio-items/nalustudies/
Maholo,
Miles Lin and the I Dream of Fish Team