The Perpetual Plastics team and Freegan Food Foundation are proud 2nd-place winners of the National Volunteer Awards, hosted by the Association for Volunteerism in the Netherlands. The Perpetual Plastics Team won second place in the ‘Nature and Environment’ category, covering SDGs 13, 14, and 15. The Freegan Food Foundation earned second place in the ‘Livelihood Security’ category, under SDGs 1 & 10. There were 5 second-place categories to be won, with 66 nominees vying for the prizes, from a total of 322 entries.
The second-place prize was €3.000. The other 60 nominees received a € 1,000 third-place prize. Two organizations from Sint Maarten won 2nd place, a testament to the impact local NGOs have on the island, which is gaining more recognition throughout the Kingdom. Especially considering it is the first time the Dutch Caribbean islands were included in the nominations. The Foresee Foundation spearheaded the inclusion of the Dutch Caribbean islands, supporting more recognition and opportunities for NGOs locally and regionally.
As per the jury regarding Perpetual Plastics: 'The plastic washing up on St. Maarten often originates thousands of kilometers away—including from the Netherlands. Perpetual Plastics by EPIC, supported by over 1,000 volunteers, collects and processes this waste. Schoolchildren take home what they have learned, and people with disabilities find a place to contribute. There is hardly a better example of global responsibility: they clean up the mess we create. According to the jury, the organization sends a powerful message that extends far beyond its own coastline.'
As per the jury regarding Freegan Food: ‘On Sint Maarten, the Freegan Food Foundation also saves hundreds of kilograms of food each week that would otherwise go to waste. The organization serves as a food bank, clothing bank, and second-hand shop all in one, but its primary focus is helping families move step-by-step toward self-sufficiency. The jury was moved by the direct nature of this assistance: no waiting lists, no complex rules—just consistent, dedicated effort week after week. Fighting poverty, without the paperwork.’
The United Nations has also declared 2026 the ‘Year of the Volunteer’. This prize recognizes that work by highlighting and celebrating the social impact of volunteer efforts and how they benefit society.
Both organizations would hereby like to congratulate and thank all their volunteers who have dedicated their time and passion to the organizations and its projects over all these years. Volunteerism has always been the backbone of both organizations, and without it, they would not likely have achieved half of what they have today.
