Page 32 - bon-dia-aruba-20200618

a32 local
Thursday 18 June 2020
Monuments Fund Aruba celebrates another anniversary

Continued from Page 31 government of Aruba or SMFA.
The government has been work-
Challenges ing these past years on the pro-
As a foundation SMFA has faced tection of private monuments.
some challenges through these Meanwhile SMFA has been work-
years. For more than ten years ing on a Revolving Fund. The goal
they have not been subsidized by is to subsidize or offer low interest
the government anymore making loans to owners of private pro-
the organization fully dependent tected monuments in the future
on their rent income. Thanks to to help them preserve their monu-
their renters, being either Govern- ments.
ment of Aruba or private partners
they have been able to keep Cooperation
preserving our monuments all Another important factor in the
these years. This year SMFA has success of Monuments Fund Aru-
had their biggest challenge yet. ba through these years is the co-
The crisis did not only affect them operation and contacts with local
but the whole community. But and international, commercial
they have chosen to face these list of the government in order to project. No matter if it’s the lime and financial organizations. No
challenges with positivism and go help create jobs and stimulate kiln in Rancho or the first pharma- matter if its for a low interest loan
on with the projects that were al- the economy. cy of Aruba, they make sure to or a donation to SMFA’s restora-
ready planned before the crisis. execute every project according tion or educational projects they
SMFA has been able to put seven Despite existing for 24 years SMFA to the rules of the Monuments bu- can always count on the coop-
projects on the fast track projects still get excited with each new reau. Each new restoration proj- eration of different organizations.
ects bring their own challenges They also have a good commu-
with it but the biggest challenge nication with different organiza-
is the repurposing of the build- tions on the heritage field around
ings. For example, they have the the world. SMFA attend different
Water towers in San Nicolas and conventions and have in various
Oranjestad that were originally occasions been approached to
built as a water tower but are now speak about their experience as
an office and museum. They are a monument’s foundation. In 2015
also currently working on the fea- the Dutch Caribbean Heritage
sibility study for the water tanks at platform has been funded by the
Kibaima to repurpose the tanks Dutch Caribbean islands to work
as space for innovative agricul- together on funding of projects
ture, office or horeca. Another and knowledge exchange. Lo-
project that will be starting soon cally they also work in coopera-
is the Ex Botica Aruba. This build- tion with different organizations
ing was built in 1925 by Addison on the cultural and heritage field
Croes and together with his friend and have been honored to have
Gustave Nouel they started the volunteers who are always ready
first pharmacy of Aruba. The sto- to help.
ries behind each monument is an
added value to them. This is the For those who are interested in
reason why SMFA has been focus- becoming a volunteer or need
ing also on research of the history some advice on how to restore
of each new restoration project. their monumental house or build-
ing or if interested to rent a monu-
Revolving Fund ment, they can always contact
All protected monuments on the SMFA at info@monumentenfond-
island are property of either the saruba.com. q

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