PHILIPSBURG/WILLEMSTAD:---‘Samenwerkende Fondsen Cariben’ (‘Cooperating Foundation for the Dutch Caribbean’ - SFC), initiated the ‘Kansen Voor Jongeren Cariben’ (‘Chances for the Youth Caribbean’) program in 2013. Calling on Dutch Caribbean initiatives that help youth get and/or stay on the right track for a brighter future. This program lasted 5 years, officially has come to an end earlier last week with a conference on Curaçao. Two NGOs from Sint Maarten, namely ‘Voices of the Youth’ and ‘Kidz at Sea’ participated all throughout the program, as well as ‘Mega D Youth Foundation’ on Statia. In total 13 NGOs participated throughout the whole program.
The program started out with 1605 youth participants registering themselves, of which 1458 partook. Thus far 817 participants have successfully finalized the program (i.e. achieved their own goals, or rounded off the program, depending on the end-goal of NGO’s project). There are still 189 youth participating in the not yet finalized projects but are expected to do so in the upcoming period. SFC can, therefore, state that they have accomplished a 68% success rate with their Chances for the Youth program, and do so very proudly.
The participating NGO projects focussed for 25% on the developing of competencies, 21% on afterschool programs as well as 21% on youth social services, 17% on mentoring, and 16% on workforce preparation. The NGOs had to partake in numerous conferences and workshops along the way, also further developing themselves. They had to draft business plans to become more self-sufficient, as well as make use of a client follow up system whereby they could follow the progress of all their participants. One that many NGOs will keep using to measure progress.
Overall there was a general slight increase in school grades, the development of competencies varying from financial management, impulsiveness, assertiveness, discipline etc, all improved significantly.
The participants were for a majority male (70%), of which about 59% were still going to school, and 27% were not. At the end of the program 54% were still in school, 11% were following an educational program, 14% had a job, 6% were looking for a job, and 5% ended up in another care program.
Of the youth that did not finalize the program, 80% were considered ‘dropouts’ (due to either lack of motivation, being expelled, problematic addictions, being arrested or becoming pregnant). 10% was actually caused by a positive reason, such as furthering their schooling or getting a job. 10% were neutral reasons such as migration, illness, or being referred to another care program.
Depending on the category of assessment, there was an 80-91% satisfaction rate given to the program by the participants (based on the provided activities, staff, coach, things learned, confidence in future, and referring to friends). The parents rated the program with a 72-93% success rate (knowledge of program, activities, staff, contact, child enjoying program, child learning a lot, improved behaviour in child (which was stated to be so in 73% of the cases)).
‘Samenwerkende Fondsen Cariben / Cooperating Foundations for the Dutch Caribbean’, which consists of Fonds Sluyterman van Loo, Innovatiefonds Zorgverzekeraars, Kansfonds, Oranje Fonds, Stichting Kinderpostzegels, and Roomsch Catholijk Oude Armen Kantoor (RCOAK), has a history of supporting social initiatives in the Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. Since the inception of ‘Samenwerkende Fondsen Cariben’ in 2004, over €20 million has been invested in supporting initiatives that allow for people to meet each other, feel less of a sense of loneliness, understand each other and make an effort for one another. In 2017 alone, this was over €2.3 million in the Dutch Caribbean.
If interested in learning more about these initiatives or the opportunities Samenwerkende Fondsen Cariben has to offer, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call +1 1721 586 08 08, or visit for the applicatio
