Greetings,

Support Bonaire, Inc. (SBI) recently received a funding request from The Foundation Project on Bonaire, but as SBI itself has little in the way of core funds (and those are used to cover administration so that 100% of donations to projects are passed on to the target project/organization), we cannot help them. The hope is perhaps that those reading this might be interested in and willing to help.

Details follow, courtesy of the proposal they sent SBI.

Overview

The Foundation Project (organized in 2004, and managed by Mick Schmit, who is known to a couple of SBI's board members, including myself) is a training center for experience education for youths between the ages of 11 and 17. The heart of the Foundation Project's methodology lies in connecting the needs of each youth and positive experiences.

The target group are youths with learning and/or behavioral disorders, family problems, and/or a low intellectual level.

The objectives are to raise, form, educate, learn through experience, and after care, via a methodology involving connecting to the youths' needs, helping them gain positive experiences, positive group forming, a versatile activity program, and introducing structure and rules.

The projects the Foundation Project has implemented include:

Phase 1 - The Educating Program: Swimming, snorkeling, sports & games (group assignment), manual skills, basic boat handling, basic first aid, preventive advise, homework supervision, training "my journey through Bonaire", junior turtle watch training.

Phase 2 - Formative education: Junior Diver training, sports & games, manual skills, cooking, boat handling, first aid, computer lessons, working on & in my future, the Dutch language.

Phase 3 - Education (individual phase): English training, Chef's training, Server training, Housekeeping training, front of house (front desk) training), and follow-up dive training.

Phase 4 - After Care: Follow-up education, Internships, Work, Guidance.

The Project Needing Funding

The Foundation Project needs assistance in funding the Cooking/Housekeeping Projects of Phases 2 and 3 above, and to do this they are in need of 220V professional grade appliances - in particular a refrigerator, washer, and gas range. They have received a quote on these items from Dew Point N.V. here on Bonaire for a total of approximately US$3610 (NAF 6319.73 @ an exchange rate of 1.75).

They are hoping to start the project August 14th, which is not too far into the future.

If you would like to help give kids who are challenged by a number of circumstances outside their control in life a chance at a better future, please consider assistance The Foundation Project in its efforts.

Questions?

If you have questions about the project you can contact Mick Schmit directly at mickschmit@telbonet.an

More general SBI questions should posted here.

Support Bonaire can accept donations for The Foundation Project described above and can pass them through to the Foundation Project on a roughly monthly basis. Donations to SBI are tax deductible by U.S. taxpayers as SBI is a 501(c)(3) public non-profit charitable corporation.

Jake Richter
President, Support Bonaire, Inc.

Jake, I apologize for asking this question, as I'm sure it has been answered many times before. How does one send funds to donate to this cause directly?

Rosanne,

You can send your donations directly to:

Foundation Project
Attn: Mick Schmit
Kaya caique Sentro do Bario Nordt di Salina
Bonaire, Neth. Antilles

Thanks Jake. I apologize because what I meant to ask was how do I send a donation to Support Bonaire and have it go to this particular cause. I didn't express my question very well when I asked it. So, I would like to make a contribution to the project foundation through Support Bonaire, how do I do that?

Ah. I'm sorry I misunderstood.

You can either use a credit card and go to:

https://www.supportbonaire.org/Make-A-Donation-To-Support-Bonaire.php

And select General Funds, and then in your comment indicate that you are selecting the Foundation Project project for your donation. (Note that our core funds pay all the credit card fees, so 100% of your donation gets passed on from SBI).

Alternately, you can send a check to:

Support Bonaire, Inc.
PMB# 340
2525 Arapahoe Avenue, Suite E4
Boulder, Colorado 80302

Either way you'll get a letter confirming your donation that you can use as evidence of your donation should the IRS or your accountant ask for such.

Jake

Thanks Jake, it's on it's way. I have a soft spot for these things, as most caring people do. I'm glad I could help out.

Hi Jake, I was just wondering how the project is going. Quite honestly I was a little taken aback by the fact that people haven't jumped in to help out this cause. maybe they have and I just haven't heard. I hope they can reach their goal.

Hi Rosanne,

Sorry about the delay in responding - I was on vacation.

The organization is moving along - I saw in one of the Bonaire Reporters awaiting me here when I returned that Project Stichting had a presentation on their programs and efforts.

In terms of donations towards the specific requests above, however, they have been very sparse. However, Mick is of the opinion (rightly so) that every little bit helps, even if the full amount cannot be raised.

Jake

I hope you had a wonderful vacation! I saw in another thread you attended the NE BT meet. Thanks for the update and I hope Mick continues to work as he is making great things happen for people who need a little extra help.