UTRECHT--“Do it together yourself!” This is the theme for the Appeltjes van Oranje 2016. The Oranje Fonds will award three meeting spaces run by volunteers. Every year, Queen Máxima, patroness of the Oranje Fonds, hands out the Appeltjes van Oranje. Organizations can register themselves till September 25 via www.oranjefonds.nl/appeltjes.
This year, the Oranje Fonds is focusing its attention, with the Appeltjes van Oranje, to the meeting spaces that are under own management.
Ronald van der Giessen, CEO of Oranje Fonds stated: “More often we see people taking initiative themselves and start managing a meeting space within their village or community. We are looking for initiatives that have well succeeded. It is important that not only the governance but also the management and programming of activities for the whole village or neighbourhood are in the hands of the volunteers.”
Examples of eligible initiatives are people that are managing a neighbourhood store, community centre, playground, reading cafe or another communal facility.
The Appeltjes van Oranje is an annual award of the Oranje Fonds for initiatives that have successfully managed to connect different groups of people. The prize comprises a bronze statue, made by Princes Beatrix, and a cash prize of 15,000 euros.
During the voting week in December, the Dutch public can vote on their favourite meeting space.
The Oranje Fonds annually supports over 7,500 social initiatives in the Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom with money, knowledge and contacts.
The last year, 27.4 million euros have been invested in supporting initiatives that allow for people to meet each other, help people feel a sense of less loneliness, aid in ensuring persons understand each other and make an effort for one another.
The Oranje Fonds is sponsored by the Nationale Postcode Loterij, De Lotto, as well as by friends and businesses.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima have been the official patrons of the Oranje Fonds since its inception.
