WILLEMSTAD – A new initiative in Curaçao aims to bring employment guidance, career development, and practical job-search training directly into local neighborhoods, helping residents develop their talents and improve their opportunities in the labor market.
The program, called “Futuro ta Kuminsá den Bario” (The Future Begins in the Neighborhood), is being developed by Stichting Bureau Studie Begeleiding, the foundation behind the Study & Career Fair Curaçao (SCFC) and Job Fair Curaçao.
The initiative is primarily aimed at adults between the ages of 25 and 40 who need assistance finding employment, returning to work after a period of unemployment, or changing their career direction.
Rather than requiring participants to travel to centralized employment events, the foundation intends to organize activities in familiar and accessible locations within their own communities.
According to the organizers, the objective is to help residents identify and develop their abilities, strengthen their self-confidence, and take practical steps toward securing and maintaining employment.
The initiative builds on years of experience organizing educational and employment fairs in Curaçao.
Through these events, the foundation has encountered many motivated job seekers who could benefit from additional preparation before approaching potential employers.
Some participants need assistance preparing a professional résumé, while others require guidance in identifying their strengths, presenting their work experience, or preparing for job interviews.
The new neighborhood-based program seeks to address these challenges before participants begin contacting employers.
The proposed activities will combine practical workshops with individual career guidance.
Participants will be encouraged to develop personal action plans outlining the steps they need to take to improve their employment prospects.
Training will cover preparing job applications, communicating professionally, presenting skills and experience, and participating in job interviews.
The program will also address workplace skills, including teamwork, responding constructively to feedback, and maintaining employment after being hired.
To implement the initiative, Stichting Bureau Studie Begeleiding is collaborating with Stichting DASH, a community organization active in Seru di Papaya and surrounding neighborhoods.
DASH provides social, educational, financial, and economic support to children, young people, and adults, particularly those living in vulnerable circumstances.
Through its network of community centers and direct contact with local families, DASH will help make the employment program more accessible to residents who may otherwise face barriers to participating in career development activities.
The organizers are also seeking cooperation with other community organizations, career counselors, human resources professionals, training institutions, and employers.
These partners could contribute expertise, provide practical interview preparation, and help participants establish contacts within the labor market.
The first pilot project is planned for Seru di Papaya between September and December 2026.
Its final format and locations will depend on available resources and agreements with participating organizations.
The initiative has received support from the Representation of the Netherlands in Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten, AFAS, and the General Pension Fund of Curaçao (APC).
Stichting Bureau Studie Begeleiding hopes eventually to expand the program into additional neighborhoods and provide career guidance throughout the year.
The organization believes that talent exists in every community and that bringing employment assistance closer to residents can help transform individual abilities into concrete economic opportunities.