PHILIPSBURG--Each year, the Oranje Fonds hosts an evaluation meeting for the Kingdom’s “DOET” community service initiative where the organisers of NLdoet, Aruba DOET, Bon DOET, CURA DOET, Statia DOET and SXM DOET unite to reflect and brainstorm ways to ensure success for yet another year.
The regional meeting was hosted here in St. Maarten this year, at Simpson Bay Resort on May 28 and 29. DOET is the largest volunteer initiative in the Dutch Kingdom where foundations, associations, schools and other non-governmental organisations host various projects that need the assistance of volunteers. The annual event is hosted on all Dutch Caribbean islands and in the Netherlands on the second weekend in March.
During the two-day meeting, there are discussions and dialogue about overcoming common hiccups and how to incorporate new ideas that celebrate volunteerism and the importance of giving back to community-driven organisations.
“This year’s meeting also included site visits to some of the projects that were executed during SXM DOET 2018, showing our Kingdom partners the amazing work that our local volunteers were able to do, especially post-Hurricanes Irma and Maria of 2017.
“As hosts, many thanks go out to Simpson Bay Resort, Buccaneer Beach Bar, Avantika, La Patrona, the Sister Regina School PTA, Engage Foundation, EPIC [Environmental Protection in the Caribbean – Ed.], and Seaside Nature Park/Intervision Foundation for helping make this meeting a success. Next year’s SXM DOET will take place on March 8 and 9,”according to SXM DOET on Thursday.
