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local Friday 6 January 2023

Gino Frans, of Eliezer Foundation, celebrated 26 years free from addiction

ORANJESTAD – Eliezer job, you lose the important
Foundation is focused on things in life”, Arends indi-
helping homeless addicts. cated.
Yesterday, January 5, in a
press conference with vari- He explained that he tried
ous media, the founder of to overcome addiction
Eliezer Foundation, Gino many times, and one of the
Frans celebrated 26 years important points to achieve
of sobriety. He told a bit rehabilitation, according
about his story and how to Arends, is to search for
he came to celebrate this God. “Without God you will
milestone. not achieve it, and this is
100% because I got the op-
“Every year on the 5th of portunity thanks to God.”
January I celebrate the
great day in which I found
deliverance. God freed me He said that right now he
from drugs, alcohol, the also took the decision seri-
streets, many other things ously and decided he had
that do not please God. But enough. “I think you get
today I stand firm and I can older, you see what hap-
say today I mark 26 years pens on the streets, and
free from drugs”, Frans said. this plays a big role,” he
added.
He said that previously he Currently Arends has been
would rehabilitate, fall back I am strong, I am a big guy, I am helping myself also are an ex-addict, you have completely sober and
into addiction, rehabilitate, I thought I was all that; because it fills me with joy, a lot of influence on those clean for almost a year,
fall back. He emphasized but little by little it sank me because I don’t want them on the streets. We need and he thanks God for this
that when we tried to reha- completely until I was drag- to be on that path. My each other, and all those achievement. “Thanks to
bilitate with God, that was ging myself on the streets”, work helps them to stand who studied for this – with God I am reaching a year
the last time. “God showed he said. firm, like I can, and if God all respect, we need them, and I feel sublime. I wake
me it is possible and I want helped me He can help but they also need us. We up in the morning with a
to tell everyone to try with After rehabilitating and others too. This is our goal,” are people who were res- will, a desire, a want to
God.” overcoming his addiction, Frans pointed out. cued from the streets,” he fight. Contrary to when I
Frans founded a founda- added. was in that world, it is com-
Frans said that recently he tion to dedicate to help- Together with Frans was Mr. pletely different. You don’t
sees a lot of young kids on ing other addicts on the Anthony Arends, a person Arends said that he began know the time of day, you
the streets and they don’t streets. He explained that with whom Eliezer Founda- walking the path of addic- don’t know anything.”
know what they’re doing. helping people he also tion battled for a long time tion with at barely 17 years
He said that they are prac- helps himself, because he to rid him of addiction, and old. He began with ciga- Finalizing, Arends said that
tically using drugs to be- sees himself in every person in the end he managed to rettes and after that he he rehabilitated and is
long in a group, and they that he helps. overcome. Frans empha- tried stronger things, like al- helping at the Eliezer Foun-
used drugs without know- “Drugs are like cancer, the sized that he tells his story cohol and cocaine. dation because he wants
ing what will happen to symptoms are the same. not to boast, but to show “You think you can take to be an example for oth-
them. “You think you are The addict begins slowly that the work they do bears it and leave it, but there ers. “The way Gino is an
strong, but it destroys you. until he sinks, because fruits and through them – comes a time when it dom- example, I want to be an
I was one of those who you don’t go up, you go who are addicts – they can inates you. It reaches a lev- example too. I want to
thought everything is okay, down. Each person I help have a bigger influence on el where you think you can continue helping people so
other addicts on the streets. handle it, but it dominates that they don’t go through
“When you are an addict, you completely, and you what I went through.”q
you rehabilitate and you lose family, you lose your