By Foresee Foundation
For the first time, Dutch Caribbean organizations competed in the Nationale Vrijwilligersprijzen – the Netherlands’ National Volunteer Awards. Of more than 320 applications, approximately 20 came from across the Dutch Caribbean. Seven were from St. Maarten: the St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation, Home Away from Home, SXM DOET, Freegan Food Foundation, Perpetual Plastics by EPIC, Volunteer.sx and Leaders for Change.
Two earned second place in their categories: Perpetual Plastics for Nature and Environment, and Freegan Food for Livelihood Security. More than 1,000 volunteers have helped Perpetual Plastics by EPIC tackle plastic washing onto our shores. The jury observed that they “clean up the mess we create.” Freegan Food rescues hundreds of kilograms of food each week and gets it to people who need it. The jury called it “fighting poverty, without the paperwork.”
As we move toward the close of 2026, these awards carry added meaning. The United Nations proclaimed this the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development, drawing attention worldwide to the role volunteers play in strengthening communities and addressing social challenges. It is a fitting moment to ask whether that recognition is reflected in our national policies and whether volunteers and their organizations are included in shaping them.
Across St. Maarten, our NPOs and their volunteers feed families, clean beaches, mentor young people and care for our elders. They notice when someone needs help and know how to bring people together. Their work is especially visible after a hurricane, but honestly they are carrying our society every day.
Should we count volunteer hours and estimate their economic value? Those figures may help make a case for support, but they cannot fully describe what it means to an elder to feel remembered, a child to be allowed to play soccer or a family to receive help with dignity. These stories matter alongside the numbers.
4C Foundation has developed a clear picture of St. Maarten’s non-profit sector: the number of organizations doing the work, the people they reach and the challenges they face. Government needs to use that knowledge and include the sector as a partner in shaping social policy. NGOs know their communities through years of commitment and hands-on work. Their experience should inform policy decisions from the start, no matter the sector.
Inclusion also matters across the Kingdom. NGOs and volunteers on all six Dutch Caribbean islands must continue to have a place in Kingdom-wide initiatives, with opportunities to contribute as well as be recognized. 4C Foundation will be at the forefront of making their work visible and ensuring their voices help shape even more initiatives.
Our 4C values will continue to guide our dedication to the sector: Creativity. Communication. Critical thinking. Collaboration.
We congratulate all seven St. Maarten applicants on participating in the National Volunteer Awards, especially Perpetual Plastics by EPIC and Freegan Food on their achievements. As this international year draws to a close, recognition should lead to something lasting: Policies shaped with the people who serve our communities every day.
