THE HAGUE – Residents across the Caribbean islands will be able to vote starting Monday, May 18, for their favorite candidate in the prestigious “Appeltje van Oranje” awards organized by the Oranje Fonds.
This year, ten organizations from the Caribbean are among the fifty initiatives competing for the award, which is presented annually to organizations committed to building a more connected and inclusive society within the Netherlands and the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom.
Voting will remain open until May 27 through the official Oranje Fonds website:
Appeltje van Oranje Voting Page
The Oranje Fonds announced the fifty candidates earlier this year, with the Caribbean organizations representing Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Sint Eustatius.
The Caribbean candidates are:
- Stichting Trampolin pa Trabao – Aruba
- Fundacion Pa Nos Comunidad – Aruba
- Stichting Hestia – Curaçao
- Mega D Youth Foundation – Sint Eustatius
- Freegan Food Foundation – Sint Maarten
- Fundashon ManUniko – Curaçao
- Excellence Center in Education Foundation – Curaçao
- Fundashon Sentro di Bario Otrobanda – Curaçao
- Fundacon ADRA Aruba – Aruba
- Leaders for Change – Sint Maarten
The public vote will determine the first official nominee. A jury will then select nine additional nominees during a pitch day scheduled for June, where all participating organizations will present their initiatives to the jury and to one another.
In October, Queen Máxima will announce the three winning organizations.
This year’s awards place particular attention on initiatives tackling poverty and social exclusion, issues that continue to affect large parts of the Caribbean region.
According to the Oranje Fonds, approximately one in three people in the Caribbean lives in poverty. The organization noted that existing anti-poverty policies are often too complicated or insufficient, making community-based social initiatives essential in helping vulnerable groups receive support.
The Appeltjes van Oranje recognize organizations that are unique, creative, socially meaningful, and active for at least two years. Each winning initiative receives a bronze sculpture designed by Princess Beatrix along with a cash prize of €25,000, which can be freely used to support the organization’s mission.
The awards ceremony traditionally takes place at Paleis Noordeinde in the Netherlands.