WILLEMSTAD – After 13 years of organizing Curaçao's largest volunteer initiative, Curaçao Cares has officially transferred responsibility for CURA DOET to the Kurason pa Kòrsou Community Foundation. The transition marks a new chapter for the annual community service campaign, which has completed 3,310 projects and involved more than 350 community organizations since its launch in 2014.
The formal handover took place in September 2026, but both organizations commemorated the transition on Wednesday, November 11, recognizing the thousands of volunteers, businesses, schools, and community groups that have contributed to the initiative over the years.
Transferred of responsibility from CURA DOET to the Kurason pa Kòrsou Community Foundation
Kurason pa Kòrsou will now lead the organization of CURA DOET, with a particular focus on encouraging greater participation and leadership among young people.
The next edition is scheduled for May 14 and 15, 2027, and community organizations can already register their projects through www.curadoet.com.
From 130 Projects to Curaçao's Largest Volunteer Initiative
Curaçao Cares first organized CURA DOET in 2014 in cooperation with the Oranje Fonds. The inaugural edition featured 130 projects, laying the foundation for what would become the largest volunteer initiative in Curaçao and the wider Caribbean region.
With support from Reda Sosial, hundreds of community organizations, and local partners, the initiative expanded significantly over the following 13 editions.
In recent years, CURA DOET has typically attracted between 4,000 and 5,000 volunteers annually, bringing together residents from different neighborhoods, backgrounds, and age groups.
Over the years, volunteers have renovated schools and community centers, improved sports facilities, and organized activities for children, senior citizens, and vulnerable members of society.
Businesses have also played an important role by contributing employees, materials, expertise, and financial support to help community organizations complete projects that might otherwise have remained unfinished.
Beyond the physical improvements, organizers emphasize that CURA DOET has helped strengthen social connections by bringing together people who might never otherwise have met.
Founders Reflect on 13 Years of Community Service
For Curaçao Cares founders Lysayé de Windt and Deva-Dee Siliee, handing over the initiative represents an emotional but positive milestone.
"It started with a dream. Now it belongs to all of us, literally to all of Curaçao," the founders said in a joint statement.
"Year after year, we have seen the best of our island. In every neighborhood and every corner, people from different backgrounds and generations are ready to help one another."
The founders acknowledged that stepping away from an initiative they helped develop for more than a decade brings mixed emotions.
"When you have nurtured something for 13 years, letting go is bittersweet. We feel a little nostalgic, but above all, we are proud that we can pass on the baton."
Curaçao Cares expressed its gratitude to the volunteers, community organizations, businesses, schools, sponsors, and partners whose commitment helped establish CURA DOET as a permanent part of Curaçao's social calendar.
The organization emphasized that the success of the initiative has always depended on collective effort rather than the work of any single institution.
Greater Role for Young People in 2027
Under the leadership of Kurason pa Kòrsou, CURA DOET will continue its established mission of encouraging volunteerism while placing additional emphasis on youth involvement.
The foundation wants young people to do more than simply participate in existing projects. It intends to encourage them to develop their own ideas, help organize activities, and take responsibility for improving their neighborhoods and communities.
Schools, youth organizations, sports clubs, and businesses are being encouraged to support this approach.
By bringing younger participants together with experienced volunteers, the organizers hope to create opportunities for mentorship, cooperation, and the exchange of knowledge.
Despite the increased attention to young people, CURA DOET will remain open to volunteers of all ages.
The new organizers aim to preserve the initiative's inclusive character while encouraging a new generation to become actively involved in community service.
Registration Opens for CURA DOET 2027
Community organizations can begin submitting their projects for the May 14–15, 2027 edition through the official website, www.curadoet.com.
Residents, businesses, schools, families, and groups of friends will once again be invited to participate in the two-day volunteer campaign.
Information about volunteer registration will be announced later through the initiative's official communication channels.
The transition from Curaçao Cares to Kurason pa Kòrsou is intended to ensure that the network of volunteers and community organizations developed over the past 13 years continues to grow.
Although the organization responsible for CURA DOET is changing, its central mission remains the same: bringing people together to improve their communities through voluntary service.
As the organizers prepare for the 2027 edition, they are encouraging the population to continue embracing the spirit of solidarity that has defined the initiative since its beginning.
The campaign's familiar message remains at the heart of its mission: "Duna un man, gan'un kurason!" – Lend a hand, win a heart!