PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – On Thursday August 15, four young Sint Maarteners departed for Turkey to participate in an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange. The exchange entitled ‘Entrepreneurship v Orphans 2.0: Youth Drama’ is underway in Tokat, Turkey, from August 17 – 25, 2019. The program brings together youth from Turkey, North Macedonia, Romania and Sint Maarten to discuss and raise awareness about difficulties that orphans face in their daily lives including hate speech and orphan phobia, share information about orphanage systems in partner countries, talk about types of entrepreneurship, and discuss a particular youth group who grew up in orphanages and their way towards entrepreneurship.
Representing Sint Maarten are Sint Maarten Youth Parliament Alumni Rochana Richardson, Astra White and Jemila Holaman, along with 1st St. Maarten Boys’ Brigade Corporal Elias Jones. The Sint Maarten delegation is accompanied by Caribbean Education and Culture Foundation President, Mesut Bayezit. While in Turkey, the participants will also have the opportunity to share our rich culture and history with their fellow participants.
In preparation for the trip, the participants were required to do some research on our local foster care and support systems. They are grateful for the Court of Guardianship and the Family Guardian, Ms. Meredith Concincion for their invaluable information and assistance. The delegation will return to Sint Maarten on Monday August 26. The Caribbean Education and Culture Foundation continue to collaborate with the St. Maarten Youth Council Association to provide Erasmus+ Youth programs for youth, youth leaders and youth workers on St. Maarten. The organizations are currently seeking participants to participate in programs to be held in Slovenia, Bulgaria and Sint Maarten in October and November.
