Danzarte teaches children the art of a circus (October 2008)
Danzarte Foundation Studio (Curacao) provides circus courses to 50 – 75 children and youngsters between 6 – 17 years old. These activities are rather unique on the island. Aside from all the circus techniques, the participants develop other skills as well; like their creative and social abilities. These are very noticeable during their performances. The children learn the importance of perseverance and teamwork by means of all the circus activities. This is one of the reasons that give Danzarte the unique combination of arts and social work. They bought several circus materials with the cooperation of Het Startbureau.
Youngsters learn about catering in a restaurant at Bonaire (October 2008)
Project Foundation (Bonaire) provides training to 25 youngsters with behavioral- , educational- and/or mental disorders. One of the projects is organized by the educational restaurant “The Bonairean”. The participants follow daily courses about catering. The existence of the restaurant is mainly due to the fine technical facilities as well as their own plantation/ greenery, which is also managed by the youngsters mentioned above. Come November students form ROC Landstede will travel to Bonaire in order to give their contribution to this greenery.
The restaurant, which is active since 2007, provides courses about catering and hospitality. During 2 mornings of the week, the doors of the restaurant are open to clients. They can enjoy breakfast as well as coffee, tea, juices and home made pies. The youngsters function as waiters, cashiers, cleaners and cooks. During the last couple of months, Het Startbureau Foundation developed future plans/projects for this restaurant. This was also possible thanks to the donation of AMFO and the public relational materials given by DOEN Foundation. Two other foundations also made donations which made the purchase of a vehicle for the transportation of the youngsters possible.
From hockey in The Hague to social activities on Curacao (July 2008)
Painting the houses of the poor, visiting the ostrich farm with the kids, cleaning the island and participating at sport activities for children with disabilities… all these and more under the tropical sun of Curacao. During July, 8 youngsters from the Youth Academy from the hockey association in The Hague will voluntarily participate at social projects on this island, in collaboration with locals.
The Youth Academy wants to teach these youngsters what it feels like to live in another country. Annually these hockey players are sent all over the world in order to participate with these social projects. With the assistance of local organizations, they learn how to organize and implement all these activities. The first project took place in 2007 on Curacao. Youngsters from The Hague participated at projects from SEDREKO and De Savaan. They organized among others sport activities for the children and also for youngsters with disabilities.
Het Startbureau Foundation is in charged with the complete schedule of this project. Additionally, several local organizations are also involved. Small entrepreneurs, like carpenters, electricians and painters work very hard for the accomplishment of this project. The television program “ Dun'é un Chèns ” will be filming the activities to broadcast these on television. The youngsters from The Hague and Curacao held several fundraisings, among others a fundraising dinner. Moreover, they approached several social funds and sponsors.
Presentation of a Cultural Investigation for the DOEN Foundation (May 2008)
On Saturday 24 th May 2008, the young professionals of Het Startbureau presented the results of their investigation regarding Arts & Culture at Curacao . The general message entailed: “Invest in talent, emancipation and the identification of a community”. The presentation was part of the business visit of the DOEN Foundation on the island, which was organized by Het Startbureau. The complete program consisted of among other things, a visit to small agricultural projects, environmental projects and a restaurant for the youngsters of Bonaire .
Opening hospice (March 2008)
On the 3rd of March, Hamied Foundation inaugurated the first hospice on Curacao. The hospice, located in Otrabanda, is a habitat where patients with terminal diseases can spend the last phase of their life with the quality of personal and professional care. Palliative care is provided to both the terminal patients and their relatives; it includes care on the physical, emotional, social and spiritual areas. Relatives, volunteers and other professionals such as doctors and employees of the hospital are cooperating powerfully to accomplish this project.
Recently, 15 volunteers listed themselves. The Princess Wilhelmina Funds and the benevolence services at the Sint Elizabeth Hospital are in charged with the patients that are registered since March. The hospice is being built thanks to a donation from Wilhelmina Funds and the Sluyterman van Loo Foundation. Currently they are petitioning a “Relaxation & Wellness Garden” at the AMFO. Het Startbureau Foundation supports Hamied with the project development and financial appeals.
6 active Young Professionals (October 2007)
Since October 2007 six young-adults have been working at Het Startbureau Foundation. They are between 20-29 years and are born in Curacao. 5 of the 6 are studying at the University of the Netherlands Antilles and combine the assignments with their studies. The 6 th attends several trainings besides his job. 3 students are conducting a research on Arts and Culture of Curacao. The other 3 are active with the development of projects and the reports hereof.
Training for youngsters
Futuro Briante Foundation organizes trainings for youngsters with an addiction problem. This is partly thanks to the support of Het Startbureau Foundation. The youngsters are between 12-17 years and are located in BRASAMI and GOG. On a daily basis they receive the trainings focused on social formation in Dutch, English and Papiamentu. Welzijn Foundation and Support Netherlands Antilles Youth Program (SNAYDP) made it possible to organize these trainings because of their financial donation. A Young Professional of Het Startbureau attends the trainings and makes reports of the development and results. Het Startbureau supports Futuro Briante by means of the development of their future plans.