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Thursday 19 November 2020

A strange year but lots of reasons to be thankful

Please email by latest Tues- the day before Black Fri- makes sense. Thanksgiv-
day November 24th to: day. Thanksgiving Day tra- ing can be traced back
news@arubatoday.com. ditionally kicks off the ‘holi- to 1621 where refugees
Thank you for supporting day season’ in the United from England, known as
our free newspaper, we States. The day was set in Pilgrims, invited the local
strive to make you a hap- stone by President Franklin Native Americans to a har-
py reader every day. D. Roosevelt in 1939 and vest feast after they expe-
approved by Congress in rienced a successful sea-
Please do note: By submit- 1941. FDR changed it from son of produce growth.
ting photos, text or any Abraham Lincoln’s desig- But it wasn’t just the eco-
other materials, you give nation as the last Thursday nomic drive that allowed
permission to The Aruba in November (because the Pilgrims to prosper. It
ORANJESTAD — 2020 is year. Maybe you wish to Today Newspaper, Carib- there are sometimes five was their devotion to God
not your average year, say thank you to a special bean Speed Printers and Thursdays in the month). and His laws. And that’s
this Thanksgiving will be a person in your life or you any of its affiliated com- what Thanksgiving is really
special edition if only for would like to express your panies to use said materi- Many Americans think it all about.
the fact that we appreci- gratitude to hospital staff als, as well as names, like- of it as just as important
ate our health and welfare or your favorite waiter in ness, etc. for promotional as Christmas. In fact, more The Pilgrims recognized
so much more after living your Aruba hotel. It is up purposes without com- people in the US celebrate that everything we have is
the past 11 months. Aruba to you! Just write us and pensation. Thanksgiving than they a gift from God – even our
Today likes to give you the send us a picture together do Christmas. Thanksgiv- sorrows. Their Thanksgiving
opportunity to express your with your message. We What is Thanksgiving ing Day is a secular holi- tradition was established
gratitude to your blessings will publish it in our edition about? day in a country that of- to honor God and thank
by writing a personal mes- on Thanksgiving Day, No- Thanksgiving 2020 is on ficially separates church Him for His blessings and
sage or quote about this vember 26nd. Thursday November 26th, and state so this probably His grace.q

Youth in debate about their advice for the future

ORANJESTAD — Children On Curacao, the children com/unicef.fimfestival.
between the age of 13 and emphasize, among other In the week of November
18 from Curacao, Aruba, things, a special point of 23rd, it is the governments
Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Sint contact to discuss the stress turn. The youth from the six
Eustatius and Saba are par- they experience due to islands have a conversa-
ticipating with the UNICEF the corona crisis. The ad- tion with the government
project ‘My New World’. In vice from Aruba includes, concerning their advice.
the past months they have among other things, the Furthermore, a few of the
formulated advice about necessity of educational in- children from Bonaire,
how their new world should novation, which varies from Saba and Sint Eustatius will
look in light of the ongoing a better digital offer to es- have a digital conversation
corona crisis. The children tablishing a student coun- with the state secretary
will discuss their advice cil at schools. The youth government on all three of school supplies and af- Raymond Knops of the Min-
with each other in debates on Sint Maarten also want the islands. fordable public transporta- istry of Internal Affairs and
and with representatives standardizing of the offer A similar trajectory has been tion. The youth also want Kingdom Relations and
from the government. of digital classes and an taking place on Bonaire, St. there to be more atten- with parliament member
expansion of better access Eustatius and Saba since tion to their mental health Stieneke van der Graaf.
Advice per island to sport activities. In gen- September. In Sint. Eustatius and professionals that can These conversations will
The children have spoken eral, an urgent need to be the emphasis of the advice guide them with this. be the conclusion of the
about the question: what is heard arises from the youth is, among other things, on UNICEF project ‘My New
important for me consider- of Curacao, Aruba and Sint good online schooling with Debates & discussions World’.
ing the ongoing corona cri- Maarten. The reports with operable material (internet On November 20th, World
sis. What topics should the the advice will be offered connection and laptops) Children’s Day, the youth Child/ Youth participation
government work on? to representatives of the and teachers that are spe- will be debating with each The ‘My New World’ project
cifically trained for this. The other about their advice. in the Dutch Caribbean is a
youth of Saba find profes- Children from Sint Maarten cooperation between UNI-
sional sport activities im- will be debating with chil- CEF, the governments of
portant. For example bas- dren from Sint Eustatius and the six islands and the Min-
ketball, football and volley- Saba. Children from Bo- istry of Internal Affairs and
ball, that is guided by pro- naire will be debating with Kingdom Relations. With
fessional sport trainers. Par- children from Curacao and the #MyNewWorld project
ticipation takes first place Aruba. The children have UNICEF and the govern-
for the youth from Bonaire. been preparing for this dur- ments emphasize the im-
They would like to have ing some lively debate and portance of giving children
a voice when it comes to lobby trainings. The de- the chance to express their
topics that concern them bates can be followed via opinions on topics that
directly, such as cheaper livestream: www.facebook. concern them..q