PHILIPSBURG – K1 Britannia Foundation’s Mentorship Program has been chosen as a top 10 finalist for the coveted prize of the “Appeltjes van Oranje” given out yearly by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima to social organizations throughout the Dutch Kingdom.
The theme for this year is “Powerful Children” focusing on children that grow up in vulnerable situations. “Oranje Fonds saw the importance of our program and highlighted K1 Britannia for fighting for our children,” the Foundation said in a statement.
Seventeen-year-old Yasmine Essed of Milton Peters College (MPC) represented the foundation at the regional round in Curaçao. She was the youngest person ever to give a presentation at Oranje Fonds. “The reaction and support shown by the various organizations at the regional round and by Oranje Fonds representatives really highlighted the need for us to invest in our youth as a community,” the release continued.
“The heart behind our mentorship program is prevention because children from abused and neglected backgrounds need one on one time, love and care to heal from and overcome emotionally damaging experiences, which in turn prevents youth issues and crime on the island.
We are extremely thankful and appreciative that abused children and the need to assist them is in the public eye and that they will get more of the help that they deserve. The hope is to also highlight and encourage the community to give back in this special life-changing way of becoming a mentor,” the Foundation stated.
“We are honored to represent St. Maarten and be a voice for the children. It’s a victory for each child, K1 Britannia Foundation and St. Maarten,” the statement concluded.
For more information on Oranje Fonds and the “Appeltjes van Oranje” Award, visit http://www.oranjefonds.nl/appeltjes. For more information about K1 Britannia Foundation, visit website www.k1britanniafoundation.org, email: foundation@k1britannia.org or visit on Facebook.
