WILLEMSTAD – In a powerful show of support and celebration for Curacao’s historic participation in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup games, Sandals Resorts, AFC Ajax, and the Sandals Foundation have mobilized thousands of students in its Future Goals programme to adorn the streets of Kura Hulanda with sustainable art decorations celebrating The Blue.
The masterpiece, which was unveiled on World Oceans Day, Monday June 8, served as the highly anticipated Year End Event for the local football programme which implements an 8-week curriculum to primary school students blending in-class learning with on-the-field training– teaching skills in teamwork, problem-solving, and confidence - all through the game of football.
“Across the island, there is an electric energy anticipating the debut of members of the Blue Wave© as they take to the world’s biggest sporting stage,” says Patrice Gilpin, Public Relations Manager Sandals Foundation. “To help celebrate, we wanted to create an opportunity for students to be part of this historic milestone. With the support of craft moms, plastics and lost fish nets were reimagined to create colourful works of art. The materials will then be donated to Limpi for continued recycling.”
As a build up to the Ocean’s Day Street Reveal, students across 21 schools and local recycling company Limpi collected 384kg of blue, white and yellow plastic waste, 192.319 plastic lids and 40m2 of ghost nets . Students also got a chance to take part in their own schoolyard football tournament, making the magic of the moment even more real.
“The love of football lives and breathes in the hearts of families on this island. There was no better way to bring this year’s event to a close than to have every school showcase their skills on and off the field,” says Future Coach Clayton Goeloe.
Launched in 2022, the Future Goals programme serves as a unique vehicle for promoting physical play and raising environmental education and stewardship amongst students with goals made from recycled plastics and ghost nets pulled from the sea. To date, the programme has collected more than 3,400 kg of plastic waste, 1.7 million plastic lids and 315 m² of ghost nets.
“It has been four incredible years of partnership. We believe youth is the future and has the power to shape it. Educating youth together with our partner Sandals Resorts on life skills and caring for the island is something we truly value and is deeply rooted in our club philosophy,” says Cas Biesta, Chief Commercial Officer at AFC Ajax.