K1 Britannia in St. Maarten at work to put together food parcels for families and persons in need. (Photo courtesy K1 Britannia Foundation)
HILVERSUM--“The One Kingdom” fundraising initiative of Curaçao-born comedian and TV personality Jandino Asporaat has raised more than 800,000 euros for food parcels that will go to families and persons in need in Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten.
The money was raised during the Together One Kingdom live show on Dutch national TV on NPO 1 Saturday evening, and could also be viewed live on the islands through the national TV stations in Aruba and Curaçao, via St. Maarten Cable TV, satellite and BVN.
With the funds, the Dutch relief organisation Cordaid, the Cooperating Relief Organisations Curaçao SHC and K1 Britannia Foundation of St. Maarten can assist thousands of needy families on the islands.
The TV show, watched by more than half a million people, included the participation of State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops, well-known Dutch Caribbean performing artists Giovanca, Edsilia Rombley, Shirma Rouse and Tania Kross, Curaçao Olympic athlete Churandy Martina, soccer player Dirk Kuyt, saxophone artist Candy Dulfer and TV personality Jeroen Pauw
During the fundraising show itself, 672,000 euros were collected for the three Dutch Caribbean countries, and after the show, this amount increased to more than 800,000. The funds from Together One Kingdom will be used to put together and distribute food parcels for persons who have (almost) no more income to buy food for their families.
The corona crisis and the consequent economic hardship due to the halted tourism sector are resulting in mass unemployment with tens of thousands of families being thrown into poverty on the islands. These families barely have income to buy groceries. Local organisations are already putting together and distributing food parcels, but they need more funds to assist the many families.
The Dutch-based relief organisation Cordaid works with several local organisations and food banks. Acquiring the products locally helps the economy. The Together One Kingdom initiative was initiated by Jandino Asporaat who aimed to raise as much money as possible to arrange food parcels for the neediest persons in the Dutch Caribbean countries.
People in the Netherlands were encouraged to donate at least 30 euros which will support a family of four for about two weeks with a food parcel. The food parcel contains basic products like rice, pasta, flour, fish and meat in cans, canned vegetables, breakfast cereals, milk, toilet paper, dishwashing liquid, detergent, soap, toothpaste.
Saturday’s fundraising show featured live performances by well-known artists like Giovanca, Edsilia Rombley, Shirma Rouse, Tania Kross, Trijntje Oosterhuis and Berget Lewis. People were encouraged to come to the drive-thru at the studios to drop their donation at Churandy Martina. People could also take part in an auction whereby they could bid on private saxophone lessons by Candy Dulfer and a lunch with Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb.
In St. Maarten, the logistics of the food parcels are largely handled by the K1 Britannia’s Disaster Relief and Crisis Team (K1 DIRECT). With the money that is collected through Together One Kingdom, K1 DIRECT will put together and distribute food parcels. The non-profit organisation is already working hard to assist the needy and vulnerable families on the island.
In Curaçao, the funds will be used by the platform Cooperating Relief Organisations Curaçao SHC. This platform is a joint initiative of the Food Bank Curaçao, the Curaçao United Districts, Social Pastoral Caritas Willemstad, Aliansa Curaçao, the Rotary Club Willemstad and the Curaçao Solidarity and Strength Foundation.
Together One Kingdom is supported by the Cabinets of the Ministers Plenipotentiary of Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten, the St. Martin of Tours Roman Catholic Parish in St. Maarten and the Netherlands broadcasting company NTR. Saturday’s live show was a follow-up to the online fundraiser that Jandino Asporaat broadcasted via Instagram on April 25.
Asporaat shared his gratitude and happiness about the success of Saturday’s national fundraiser on Twitter. “We have already collected more than 800,000 euros. Fantastic! I cannot even begin to say how thankful we are. Everyone has worked so hard to make this a great event. Deep respect.”
