Kids Council members with coordinator Cherida Creebsburg (second left in rear), UNICEF Child rights advisor Dirkje de Jong (third left in rear), Court of Guardianship Robyn Peeters (second right in rear), and Director of St. Eustatius Healthcare Foundation Gerard Berkel (second right).
ST. EUSTATIUS--Kids Council children of Governor de Graaff, NuStar and Bethel Methodist schools shared tips and ideas with Queen Beatrix Medical Centre (QBMC) and St. Eustatius Centre for Archaeological Research (SECAR) in the Conference Room of St. Eustatius Utility Company STUCO on Tuesday.
The meeting was facilitated by Robyn Peeters of the Court of Guardianship. Also present at the dialogue session was Kids Council’s coordinator Cherida Creebsburg, as well as UNICEF’s child rights advisor for Statia Dirkje de Jong.
The Kids Council is an initiative of UNICEF Netherlands and Missing Chapter Foundation, in which children share their fresh perspectives on existing dilemmas with the decision makers in companies to better prepare the company and themselves for the future.
Throughout the school year, the Kids Council has conducted research and shared their recommendations with the management of QBMC and SECAR.
This provided the children of the Kids Council with an opportunity to act as “researcher,” capitalizing on their natural curiosity. In addition, students came in direct contact with companies and the dilemmas that affect society. Furthermore, these children were able to participate in the discussion about their own future.
The children posed question after question to healthcare representatives, Director of St. Eustatius Healthcare Foundation Gerard Berkel and Granville Hassell of Quality Care.
The hospital representatives said they were “very impressed” with the level of the questions that were posed to them. The children made several suggestions for improvement at the Medical Centre, such as a kids’ corner, and a variety of other items that would help improve the quality of service at QBMC.
The attendees thanked Peeters for a job well done, as this was the first time she conducted such an event. She received a round of applause from all the attendees, children as well as adults.
