Infant Mortality - HEALTH/NUTRITION: Kiribati faces one of the highest rates of child mortality in the world, with under-five deaths around 53 per 1,000 live births, infant mortality near 39 per 1,000, and neonatal mortality about 22–23 per 1,000. Many of these deaths stem from preventable causes: in the newborn period, prematurity, birth complications, and infections, often linked to high rates of maternal diabetes, hypertension, limited access to skilled care or resources, as well as; later in infancy, pneumonia, diarrhea tied to water scarcity and poor sanitation, and malnutrition take a heavy toll. Geographic isolation—especially on outer islands—workforce shortages, climate-driven pressures on water and food, and a health system that struggles with referrals and community outreach all amplify these risks, leaving progress toward lower mortality stubbornly slow.

Kiribati’s elevated infant and under-five mortality is closely tied to nutrition. Maternal micronutrient deficiencies and poor nutritional status raise the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, birth complications, and anemia—key drivers of neonatal deaths—while childhood undernutrition and vitamin A deficiency weaken immunity, making infections such as pneumonia and diarrhea far more lethal. Water scarcity, limited dietary diversity, and the double burden of maternal obesity alongside child malnutrition further compound these risks, especially on remote islands where timely medical care is hard to reach or does not exist altogether.

Nutritional supplementation for mothers and children offers a practical, high-impact way to interrupt this cycle. Multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) taken during pregnancy supply iron, folic acid, and other essential vitamins and minerals that support healthier pregnancies, reduce the likelihood of low birth weight and preterm delivery, and lower maternal anemia-related complications. For young children, twice-yearly high-dose vitamin A supplementation strengthens immune function and can cut overall child mortality by up to roughly 24 percent in deficient populations, while concurrent deworming improves nutrient absorption and reduces the burden of parasites that worsen malnutrition. Together these interventions help protect the critical first 1,000 days and early childhood, when survival and long-term development are most vulnerable.

What we are doing about it —— Oceans of Gratitude is proudly partnering with the organization Vitamin Angels to deliver exactly these evidence-based tools at scale. By supplying multiple micronutrient supplements (the UNIMMAP formulation) for pregnant women and pairing vitamin A with deworming for children aged 6–59 months, we are directly addressing the nutritional gaps that contribute to both neonatal and post-neonatal deaths. Through training local providers, providing technical support, and in-, Oceans of Gratitude in Partnership with Vitamin Angels are working to strengthen existing health services so these interventions can reach underserved communities which Oceans of Gratitude serves. Supporting optimal infant and young child feeding practices further reinforces the benefits. In a setting like Kiribati, where geographic isolation and health-system constraints limit access to specialized care, these low-cost, high-impact nutrition interventions offer a practical way to reduce preventable infant mortality by improving maternal health, birth outcomes, and young children’s resilience to infection.

Oceans of Gratitude has received an in-kind Grant Award through Vitamin Angels, to supplement and support every pregnancy, newborn, and nursing mother on both the islands of Kiritimati and Fanning for the next 3 years!!!

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Lack of educational and employment opportunities/resources- HOPE: In Kiribati, educational and employment opportunities remain tightly constrained by the country’s extreme geographic isolation, small population, and narrow economic base. Schools on the outer islands often struggle with limited resources, teacher shortages, and inconsistent quality, while progression to secondary and tertiary education requires students to leave their home islands and compete for scarce places. The formal job market is small; most livelihoods still depend on subsistence fishing and agriculture, fishing-license revenues, remittances, and a limited number of government or aid-related positions. Youth unemployment and the share of young people neither in education, employment, nor training are persistently high, leaving many school-leavers with few clear pathways into stable, well-paid work.

The result is a cycle in which limited schooling quality and restricted local opportunities reinforce each other. Without strong foundational skills and realistic routes into skilled employment, many young I-Kiribati face underemployment or migration under difficult conditions. Maritime training has long provided one of the few reliable outlets for international work, yet overall options for economic advancement remain narrow, and climate pressures only increase the urgency of building human capital that can support more resilient futures.

What we are doing about it —— In this context, access to quality English language programs for children can function as a genuine golden ticket. English proficiency can provide opportunities for these kids for employment in government administration, international shipping, tourism, and most higher-value employment opportunities both inside Kiribati and abroad. Children who develop strong English skills early gain a decisive advantage in accessing better secondary education, maritime and vocational training, scholarships, and overseas study or work pathways. In a nation where mobility and connection to the wider Pacific and global economy often determine life chances, confident English proficiency expands options far beyond what local subsistence or limited formal jobs can offer, giving young people a practical tool to break the cycle of restricted opportunity.

Oceans of Gratitude, hand-in-hand with private donors, has the connections and understanding to deliver the resources and contacts directly to the most underserved schools on Kiritimati and Fanning Islands- two of the most remote inhabited islands in Kiribati. We are currently working to continue to refine and expand the delivery of ESL course tutor access as well as faculty professional development to help enrich the educational opportunities, helping teachers teach, and helping students learn!