WILLEMSTAD – The Ministry of Social Development, Labor and Welfare (SOAW), in collaboration with waste management company Selikor and Sosten B.V., has launched a new employment development initiative aimed at helping social assistance recipients gain practical work experience while contributing to a cleaner Curaçao.
The project, titled "Huntu pa un Kòrsou Limpi" (Together for a Cleaner Curaçao), combines practical employment training with personal guidance to help participants develop the skills and confidence needed to enter the labor market.
The initiative specifically targets individuals receiving social assistance, locally known as onderstand, providing them with opportunities to gain work experience and prepare for greater financial independence.
According to SOAW, the project is designed to achieve two objectives simultaneously: improving cleanliness across the island and creating meaningful employment opportunities for residents who face challenges entering the workforce.
Practical Work Experience Through Selikor
Under the program, participants are actively involved in cleaning activities throughout Curaçao while developing skills that can be applied in future employment.
Selikor is responsible for providing the practical work experience, allowing participants to become familiar with workplace expectations and responsibilities.
The activities are intended to help participants develop discipline, teamwork, accountability, and confidence in their own abilities.
Rather than focusing exclusively on the immediate cleaning tasks, the program emphasizes the importance of building professional habits that can support participants in different working environments.
The ministry considers these skills essential for individuals preparing to transition from social assistance into employment.
Personal Guidance and Psychosocial Support
An important component of the initiative is the involvement of Sosten B.V., which is responsible for providing guidance and psychosocial support throughout the program.
This assistance is intended to help participants address personal challenges while developing the confidence and skills necessary to pursue employment opportunities.
By combining practical work experience with individualized support, the project seeks to provide a more comprehensive approach to labor market preparation.
SOAW believes that employment development programs are more effective when participants receive both professional training and personal guidance.
The cooperation between the three organizations is therefore intended to create a supportive environment in which participants can gradually prepare for the demands of regular employment.
Positive Initial Results
According to SOAW, Selikor, and Sosten B.V., the project has made a positive start.
The participating organizations report that individuals enrolled in the program have demonstrated motivation and commitment to their assigned responsibilities.
They consider this encouraging for the continuation of the initiative.
The ministry emphasized that the program is not intended merely to provide temporary work opportunities.
Instead, the objective is to establish a foundation that enables participants to continue developing their skills, progress into further work experience programs, and eventually secure regular employment.
The initiative is therefore being presented as a pathway toward longer-term labor market participation rather than a short-term employment arrangement.
Promoting Independence and a Cleaner Curaçao
Through Huntu pa un Kòrsou Limpi, SOAW aims to strengthen the connection between social assistance and opportunities for personal and professional development.
The ministry wants to help participants become more independent by equipping them with practical experience and skills that could improve their employment prospects.
At the same time, their work contributes directly to maintaining cleaner public spaces across Curaçao.
The program reflects an approach in which social development and environmental improvement are pursued together.
SOAW emphasized that the ultimate goal is to create opportunities for residents to improve their circumstances while making a positive contribution to the community.
The ministry has not disclosed how many individuals are participating in the project, how long the training program will last, or whether specific employment placements have already been arranged.
For now, the participating organizations say they are satisfied with the initial progress and remain committed to helping participants take the next steps toward regular employment.
With the initiative, SOAW hopes to demonstrate that investment in people can also produce tangible benefits for the wider community, combining improved employment prospects with a cleaner and more sustainable Curaçao.