Centre for Youth and Family introduces new coordinator

Centre for Youth and Family (CYF) welcomed the Centre’s Coordinator for Saba and St. Eustatius Paul Veira.

Veira has worked, “with great pleasure,” as he said, for 25 years in child welfare in the Netherlands. In those years he has gained experience in different functions starting as a group worker in an orphanage. He worked with youngsters who had to learn to live on their own, then as an outpatient counsellor in crisis situations, and the last 14 years as a manager of several outpatient and residential teams. Veira has completed several management training courses and raised three foster children.

In 2010, he was on both Saba and Statia investigating the possibilities of setting up foster care or family homes, giving him valuable experience. Veira said he is “enthusiastic” about working at CYF in The Bottom.

CYF is committed to improving the position of children in line with the international convention on rights of the child so that children can develop into full-fl edged citizens.

“The Centre provides assistance to parents and children where parenting and growing up is diffi cult. This assistance is provided by our ambulatory care providers. They give advice to parents if they voluntarily ask for help. After all, parents are the most important people in the lives of children,” said Veira.

CYF organises activities for children and youth and likes to see parents, whenever possible, take part in fun and educational activities. Besides the work with clients, CYF provides training to anyone who wants to work with children in a positive way, such as professionals and volunteers when it comes to parenting.

The Daily Herald.