Two new seven-metre outrigger sailing canoes have been built and three others refurbished by a group of young Marshall Islands men.
They have been taught by a master canoe builder on Ebeye Island where a group of 25 graduated this week from a federally funded course run by the substance-abuse group, the Single State Agency.
The group members were also recognised for improvements in their English and mathematics, as well as general life skills, after completing the 6 month course.
The programme director Alson Kelen says they had support from US Army workers on Kwajalein Atoll, with six Americans volunteering their time to teach English, mathematics and other academic skills, and to help prepare the men for job interviews.
