The Hague – Last week, during the brief holidays the locally based Soualiga Social Movement met with the Soualiga Foundation based in the Netherlands to discuss how the two foundations could work together. President of the Soualiga Foundation Perry Geerlings and three other board members met with co-founder and Treasurer of Soualiga Social Movement Sjaoel Richardson and after a brief introduction of the aims and goals of each organization the foundations got down to business.
The Soualiga Foundation, based in the Netherlands aims to increase social, cultural awareness and participation amongst St. Maarteners in the Netherlands. While across the Atlantic the Soualiga Social Movement aims on promoting social awareness while encouraging participation and inclusion of the people of St. Maarten, for the progressive development of the island. Recognizing these overlapping areas of awareness and participation to social issues the groups have agreed to work together on several projects.
The main reason for the meeting was the co-development of a few mutually progressive projects in targeting students returning from the Netherlands or leaving the island to study. Mentioned, was a workshop on personal finance for students leaving the island to study as most students living alone for the first time are often surprised to find themselves in financial problems which subsequently becomes a distraction to their studies. The Soualiga Foundation spoke on how they can engage groups of young St. Maarteners in the Netherlands to be active in community projects there, allowing them to gain experience and project expertise, which they can apply to St. Maarten when they return. Also, discussed was a project aimed at job placement for returning students, where the Soualiga Social Movement can approach the private sector through other organizations, about these students who are returning with new insight and knowledge in different industries.
The two foundations will continue to correspond on several mutual interests and hope to execute these projects in the near future.