On 4 and 5 November 2026, thirteen civil society organisations from Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and Saba gathered in Curaçao for the annual conference of the Samen Families Versterken programme. This programme is an initiative of Kinderpostzegels and the Oranje Fonds, organised this year in collaboration with Kurason pa Kòrsou Community Foundation.
The two-day conference focused on knowledge sharing, exchanging experiences and strengthening mutual collaboration. Representatives of the participating organisations had the opportunity to share knowledge and insights with one another and discuss practical experiences. In addition, two working visits took place at various organisations in Curaçao that are part of the programme.
Personal stories
A special part of the conference was the personal impact stories shared by participants from several of the participating organisations. These stories made clear what support through the projects can mean for families and their futures.
One father explained how the guidance had helped him communicate with his child, who has developmental delays, and understand his child better. Another participant said in Papiamentu: “E proyecto aki ta laga mi bira un strong woman. Si mi ke algu mi ta bai pe. Mi yui tambe a hanja trabou.” (This project has made me a strong woman. If I want to achieve something, I go for it. My child has also found work.)
Another participant summed up the programme’s impact with the words: “This programme really changed my life.”
Workshops
In addition to the inspiring personal stories, the workshops focused on themes such as financial sustainability, strategic communication, poverty reduction and strengthening families.
Ultimately, Samen Families Versterken is about one shared goal: empowering families in vulnerable circumstances and giving children and young people more opportunities.
