Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
Philipsburg- Sint Maarten – The Resources 4 Community Resilience (R4CR) projectwasofficially launchedduring a Zoom meetingand Facebook livestreamonWednesday November 18.The ceremony washosted by radio personality Kevin SuppaPetrona(who isalso the localR4CRCommunication and Outreach expert)and Jose Sommers (R4CR Capacity and Training Manager).The R4CR program isa grant schemethatfocuses exclusivelyonfinancing and strengthening local Civil Society Organization (CSOs). The program isfinanced by the Government of the Netherlands via the St. Maarten Trust Fund. The latteris administered by the World Bank, implemented by the NRPB ( National Recovery Program Bureau) and executed by the VNGI (VerenigingvanNederlandseGemeentenInternational) in close cooperation with the NRPB, Foresee Foundation and other local partners.
Leading the small cast of speakers at the event was Chris Johnson, Dutch Representative in Philipsburg, who commended the CSOs (also known as NGOs) on their remarkable resilience for helping people during difficult times. He fondly recalled the tireless work of the late Cassandra Gibbs and what her I Can Foundation did for children in need. On behalf of the Netherlands we are very happy that the R4CR program is taking place and congratulate the NGOs who received a grant to execute their project Johnson stated.
We here at the NRPB are proud to be a part of the R4CR launch, Director of the NRPB, Claret Connor, said. R4CRdirectly supports Civil Society Organizations by funding local initiatives. The project will allow these CSOs to continue their commitment in tackling poverty, championing environmental protection, taking care of the elderly, investing in daycare and after school programs, violence prevention, and much more.Claret Connor is also chairperson of the Project Technical Committee which is an independent body in charge of vetting R4CR grant projects to ensure compliance with the various World Bank and Trust Fund regulations.
The World Bank was represented at the launch by Alex Kamurasi and Arsala Deane who both emphasized the importantrole CSOs play in the local community but also the World Banks commitment to assure the project achieves its main objective which is to ultimately improve the lives of the Sint Maarten people.
Closing off the official part of the launch was Elger Vermeer, Program Director of the VNGI, who (together with colleague Eline Vermeer) flew in from the Netherlands to clear the last operational hurdles to R4CRs full scale launch. Mr. Vermeer stressed that the R4CR program is not only a funding mechanism that will help CSOs build and strengthen their capacity, but more importantly it is a platform for the CSOs to exchange ideas, experiences and establish a growing network. The CSOs are the heart of the local community and therefore the heart of the R4CR program he concluded.
After the official speeches,host KevinPetronatransformed into radio personality Suppa and gave each of the twelve grant recipientsexactlyone minute to pitch their project to the public.
The Carib Swim Team kicked off the pitches explaining their project to upgrade the pumping and filtration system at the pool and install LED solar lights around the compound.
The Philipsburg Jubilee Library plans to set up satellite libraries in different districts to offerkidsreading facilities closer to home.
SECDA ( St Maarten Early Childhood Development Association) will assist day care centers with an after-school grocery program, a food handlers course and a train-the-trainer course in creative movement.
Helping Hands Foundation received a grant for a wheel chair bus for the elderly. This grant is a collaborative effort between R4CR andSamenwerkendeFondsen.
K1 Britannia received a grant to execute staff training in disaster management and disaster relief.
Reading Rainbow will rebuild the final section of their playschool that was destroyed by hurricane Irma and upgrade the facility to cope with the COVID-19 realities.
The AIDS Foundation pitched their project to support uninsured HIV patients with purchasing their much needed medication and securing lab tests.
The Nature Foundation received a grant to execute theVervetmonkey management project.
The Senior Citizen Foundation will use their grant to repair part of the facilities that were damaged by hurricane Irma.
The Foundation Catholic Education willinstallthe playground at the Sister Marie Laurence school in collaboration with the Middle Region Community Council.
The continuation of the spay/neuter vaccination program for stray animals is the main focus of Animal Defenders grant project.
The final one-minute pitch was reserved for the recently (formally) established Nanny NurssyFoundation who will use the grant to repair their facilities that were severely damaged by hurricane Irma.
The foundation hopes to give the homeless, the needy and the infirm a decent place to recharge.
The launch ended with the symbolic signing of the grant agreements in which all twelve CSOs simultaneously lifted their pen, their grant agreement, signed and showed the signed document. That marked the official launch of the R4CR project in which 452 thousand US dollars will be invested in the Sint Maarten economy via local CSOs.
The next step in the process is the Pre-Disbursement Training (PDT) which the CSOs will complete before the funds can be(partially) released to their projects. The PDT is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday (Nov 23 and Nov 24) at the gym of Hillside Christian School (Asha Stevens Campus) in Cay Hill.
For more information about the R4CR program or details of the selected projects please visit www.r4cr.org or the Facebook page (R4CRSXM).
The post Resources 4 Community Resilience launchesUS$452K in local projects appeared first on SXM IslandTime.
