Curaçao

Projects

Our Supported Projects


Sandals Foundation is committed to creating positive and sustainable change in the islands in which we operate through our three pillars of work—education, community, and environment. Below are a few of the projects and programs that have been implemented in our Dutch Caribbean home of Curacao.

Future Goals

Development of football in primary schools while also bringing a practical solution to a global marine problem

Rif Mangrove Park

Enhancing infrastructure at an ecotourism educational park site

Hofinan Ser’l Otrabanda

Strengthening the capacity of our islands to meet their nutritional needs with food security

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Our Program & Projects

Community


Artisan Support

The Sandals Foundation partnered with Limpi Recycling to help improve their production efficiency of market-ready products to support the tourism industry and their mission to recycle plastics. Through this effort, Sandals Foundation has contributed to an increase in the production of upcycled plastic products sold in Curacao's tourism and retail markets by providing funding for key machines, such as an injection machine, a washing and labelling machine, and a sheet making machine. The intervention continues to reduce Limpi's production costs, which should in turn reduce sales costs by increasing the efficiency of developing upcycled plastic products.

This support is expected to increase employment opportunities for additional staff to meet increased demand, and finally, it is anticipated that the programme will help Limpi Recycling generate exports and foreign exchange to contribute to the local economy.

Environment


Future Goals

The Sandals Foundation began supporting the development of football in primary schools across Curacao in 2022, in collaboration with Sandals Resorts, AFC Ajax, OneNil, and Falvela Street, while also bringing a practical solution to marine pollution in that country.

The program, Future Goals, creatively turns ghost nets sourced from the ocean and plastic waste into colourful football goals and focuses on the power of football as a vehicle to train children with life skills, while learning the importance of taking care of their communities and its natural resources of the island. Working with innovative local Curaçaoan plastic recycling company Limpi, Future Goals has created 40 football goals; each made from recycled plastic bottles and caps, of which more than 600,000 have been collected through recycling efforts of residents as well as clean-up drives at beaches and in communities. In addition, 160 square meters of ghost fishing nets - nets that have been lost or abandoned in the ocean - were retrieved from the Caribbean Sea and used to make the goals with enough material leftover to make 300 nets for the transport of soccer balls (footballs) provided by partner adidas.

The transformational sports program will expand opportunities for children, particularly in the beloved game of football as well as present a sustainable solution to a global challenge.

Education


Gravity Home Work Programme

Support for digital learning through an afterschool programme in the underserved community of Buena Vista. This program which was the brainchild of Sandals Resorts team member, Stephen St. Bart saw the foundation donating computers to support the tutoring and skills training courses of some 20 students between the ages 10 -15 years old in computer proficiency as well as audio visual productions.