Eugenius Johnson Centre awarded by Oranjefonds

Eugenius Johnson Centre in Windwardside received recognition from Dutch charity foundation in support of social initiatives Oranjefonds last weekend in Curaçao. The Oranjefonds had called for community initiatives to share their accomplishments to qualify for the “Appeltjes van Oranje 2016,” a prestigious award that praises social initiatives from and by volunteers throughout the kingdom of the Netherlands. The Centre, which is run by Saba Lions Club volunteers, was nominated among seven others from a total of 241 submitted initiatives in the Dutch Caribbean.

This meant Saba Lions Carl Buncamper and Vincent Stroom got the chance to go to Curaçao to give a short presentation about the community centre and how it functions within Saba’s society. They highlighted the initiatives organized by the Lions at the centre; the facilities the centre offers to the community; the diversity of programmes run by others at the centre and the Meals on Wheels programme, which caters a daily meal to those that cannot afford to buy such themselves, or face other social challenges that hinder them to prepare a healthy meal for themselves.

Out of the eight projects presented in Curaçao only two were selected for the next round in the Netherlands. All nominated projects represented great efforts of volunteers, and a project from Bonaire and one from Curaçao were selected for the next round.

Nevertheless, the Saba Lions Club is said to be very proud of the recognition their community centre received, being one of the best eight projects in the Dutch Caribbean.

The Saba Lions Club received a financial prize in the amount of 2,500 euros from the Oranjefonds. “The club is most grateful for the recognition and prize money,” Buncamper said.

The Daily Herald.