When you see the symbols K1 printed on the hat of the man crossing the street, what do you think? What sorts of images come to mind? Is it Hurricane Irma, mass distribution and disaster relief heroes? Or do you vaguely piece together the words charity and youth? How about a foundation for dogs? (Yes, we’ve heard it before).
Maybe we’re just assuming you know about K1, and you’ve never actually heard or seen the name before. But whatever the case may be, K1 Britannia Foundation has a 5-year bond with our home, St. Maarten.
What started as a charity to help foster children and at-risk youth has evolved into an organization of driven team members, dedicated volunteers, and benevolent sponsors who are all looking to tackle social issues and grow, together, in the process.
Priya Thirumur, one of the Co-Founders of K1 Britannia Foundation, ended up in St. Maarten after not being able to assist in Haiti, due to health reasons, after the earthquake struck.
What seemed like a short stay in St. Maarten, ended up being a place that felt like home for her. The love she had for St. Maarten transpired into what is now K1 Britannia Foundation.
An interview regarding K1’s conception led her to Richelda Rodriguez-Emmanuel, who at the time was the Director of Court of Guardianship. This conversation sparked ideas and possibilities that led to a very real need on St. Maarten.
The need to support youth in the justice system, many of whom were foster children and young offenders, who needed the support to be respected, active members our community.
That spark was now burning a little larger, and the newly-birthed foundation was on a quest to help vulnerable youth. K1 worked with many foster homes on the island and then the foundation took its next big step.
Iris Hakkens, at the age of 15, decided to volunteer with K1, and together they thought, “If everyone in St. Maarten could be a part of the solution to the problems they complain and criticize, maybe our island would be a better place.” This thought was the basis for K1’s volunteer program.
As a 15-year-old, Iris really kick-started the volunteer program, from creating the sign-up form, getting the first volunteer to register, engaging the first organizations and connecting them with volunteers.
Volunteering is meant to be fun and rewarding, it’s also supposed to get your hands dirty. I’m sure you’ve heard it before, be the change you wish to see in the world. Each person who first volunteered with K1, wanted to be the change and that drive altered the trajectory of K1.
From here, K1 started hiring its very first staff members. At that time, three teenagers were hired; they were passionate, full of life and bursting with creativity. Iris Hakkens, who started working for the foundation on her 16th birthday and became our youngest and first Project Manager, and Melissa Steffens-Vallianatos, and Yash Rajani, who have worked on and off with the foundation from the very beginning, driving K1 through the bumps, curves and open roads.
From then on, K1 has been privileged to work with some amazing people, like Tony Dunkerley, a British police officer who came to the island on a sabbatical and started a transitional program for youth coming out of the justice system; Chiaira Bowers, who is the eyes, pillars and backbone for all of our projects; and Yasmine Essed who became well known for being the youngest presenter at “Appelties van Oranje”.
Also most recently with people like, Alan Schet, a coast-guard officer who started working for K1 immediately before Hurricane Irma and has been such a key player in all our disaster-relief efforts; Malaika Richards, who has brought her fresh vision, tireless energy and real love for the youth to our Second Chance Program; and Tanvi Goklani who has been instrumental in getting K1 set up from a Public Relations point of view, helping document everything that K1 has done, so that the foundation can reach further.
There are many, many projects that have helped shape what K1 is today, but there was one event in particular that impacted K1 beyond what we thought was imaginable, Hurricane Irma.
Co-Founder Priya really thought it was pretty much the end for K1 as a non-profit organization. There was no clear future in terms of short- or long-term support. Irma completely destroyed St. Maarten and people really needed help.
The demand was so overwhelming and yet, there was absolutely nothing. How was K1 supposed to help? It was a devastating time for all of us, but Priya and the core team decided they would help no matter what.
Day after day, persistently and consistently, they made up their minds, that today they would try their best. Soon a role was now to be filled and the team, along with every single volunteer who showed up to pick St. Maarten back up, became superheroes.
Although what seemed to be one of our worst moments in St. Maarten history, was actually instrumental in shaping the foundation and its members, propelling K1 into a recharged and empowered organization.
K1 had new team members, a fresh vision, and an innovative approach to tackle problems. K1 has now even formed an official disaster relief and crisis team, called K1 DIRECT, which holds certified volunteers who would assist in future disaster situations. K1 DIRECT has taken its wings to Curaçao and has plans to expand further in the region.
It’s quite difficult to encapsulate the details of K1’s journey, Priya wholeheartedly mentioned, “K1 has always been a youth-driven organization, full of life, fire, and ideas.
Like any journey in life, K1 has its ups and downs. K1 is about a team. K1 is about trust. K1 stands for collaboration, strength, and solutions. K1 is about never taking no for an answer, and always looking at the bigger picture. There is no end to what is possible, what challenges can be tackled, what lives can be changed and who can be inspired.”
Five years later, K1 Britannia Foundation is stronger than ever. The foundation would not be where it is today without the support of every person who has helped the foundation scatter seeds and strengthen roots.
All of our sponsors, volunteers, mentors, staff, board members, and persons whose lives have been touched by the foundation: You are K1 and K1 will continue to grow because of the people who continue to water it, and the island it has been planted on.
