By Foresee Foundation
Samenwerkende Fondsen Cariben (SFC) provides funding to local Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to execute social projects. SFC on St. Maarten does this specifically for Sint Maarten, Saba and Statia. SFC is a funding initiative which started on the Dutch Caribbean islands about 18 years ago. It is a collaboration of four funders from the Netherlands, namely, Oranje Fonds, Kansfonds, Stichting Sluyterman van Loo and Kinderpostzegels – all with a social focus, the last two more specifically focusing on elderly and youth.
How does your organization contribute to a better St. Maarten for all?
SFC contributes indirectly by providing support in financial form to non-profit organisations (NPOs) that support the community in a more direct manner. SFC also provides advice, tries to form connections/links, promotes activities of NPOs and guides during the grant process, etc.
Give examples of activities you usually host or have hosted to achieve your organization’s goals?
SFC hosts information sessions on a yearly basis, and makes visits to ongoing or potentially new projects with the funders when they visit, usually twice a year. Otherwise, the office is open to all to come by for advice and hear more about SFC and its opportunities for NPOs. The SFC project coordinator regularly visits ongoing projects and tries to support where possible or when needed. It is recommended that anyone with a social project in mind should visit the office at A.T. Illidge Road 60 (the former Windward Islands Bank location) and discuss future possibilities.
What message would you like to send out to the community to support your group's goals?
SFC is there to ensure that every person counts and can participate in society; this is done through our support to NPOs that execute projects that make it possible. NPOs are truly a keystone to our society, without them, we as a society would not have come as far as we have. Much of what drives our society is with thanks to the many dedicated persons who are behind these NPOs – and SFC is proud to be able to support them in their initiatives.
How can someone sign up to volunteer or support your organization?
NPOs that have a social project in mind should feel free to contact us, view our website and discuss their project ideas. Hopefully, it can lead to a meaningful new project that can benefit those most in need.
Contact Fleur Hermanides:
Phone: +1 721 586 0808; Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Facebook: @SFCSxMStatiaSaba; Website: www.samenwerkendefondsencariben.org/en.
