The Executive Council recently approved a proposal of the Community Development Department
to create a tailor-made Saba Youth 13+ program for the age group 13-23 that promotes their
development towards adulthood so they can make full use of opportunities and talents and participate
independently and fully in society. This is being done together with the young people.
The Saba Youth 13+ program is the result of a covenant that was signed in 2021 by the Public Entity
Saba, the Public Entity St. Eustatius, the Public Entity Bonaire, and five Dutch ministries. In this 2021
partnership agreement, the ministries and public entities endorse the values of a comprehensive
approach of the youth area, because the chances for the future for young people and young adults can
be increased by it.
Through the covenant, the parties want to give substance to a more intensive, comprehensive
collaboration. The covenant contains recommendations: housing for young people, leisure time,
poverty, youth participation, domestic violence and child abuse, education and employment. It was
agreed that per island, a collaboration agenda youth 13+ would be drafted. The Dutch government is
making the funding available for these local programs.
Youth partnership
Saba has drafted a 13+ agenda and has started the process to implement a number of actions for young
people in the focal areas that were agreed upon in the covenant. Saba’s Youth 13+ will develop
programs and activities in partnership with the youth and key stakeholders that work with the target
group age 13-23.
Besides addressing the topics housing, poverty, domestic violence and child abuse, education and
employment, youth participation and leisure time, the Saba program aims at promoting youth
development strategies that focus on building positive relations, strengthening academics, soft and
technical skills, improving health and wellbeing, cultivating trustworthy, safe spaces and offering the
youths on Saba opportunities to succeed in meaningful ways.
A number of activities are being worked on. These include: setting up a Youth Community Volunteering
Service Program, organizing youth entrepreneurship workshops, youth employable skills workshops,
youth health and wellbeing workshops/programs, organizing a Youth Week to celebrate the youth, and
to further develop the mentoring and capacity building of the Saba Youth Council.
Integral approach
Earlier in February 2023, Kemaul Lee, Community Outreach Coordinator at the Community Development
Department, who coordinates the Youth 13+ program on Saba, had a meeting with the stakeholders.
“During that meeting, we not only looked at the themes, but we also discussed how to move forward. It
is vital to have an integral approach. There needs to be a unity to tackle the issues of the 13+ youth,”
Lee said.
A local youth 13+ agreement with the stakeholders, a sort of partnership agreement, will be drafted. In
the meantime, Lee is looking at setting up a special place for the youths, where they can be themselves
and come together in a safe manner that appeals to them. “We are doing this in collaboration with the
youth so they can say what it is that they want,” said Lee.
He explained that the stakeholders are important in the process, especially the youths themselves. The
Saba Youth Council and the Student Body Council of the Saba Comprehensive School (SCS) will be
frequently consulted. “Talking with the youth to get their input is important. I want to hear from them. I
want to hear about their challenges. What are their needs and their ideas how to make things better. A
close involvement of the youths not only gives them ownership, but it will also have a positive impact on
our program. I will closely work with them to formulate a plan that we will carry out together,” said Lee.