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A14 LOCAL
Thursday 16 January 2020
Aruba Timeshare Association partners

up with the Happy Community Initiative

EAGLE BEACH — Luigi Heredia is the President of the Aruba Time-
share Association (ATSA) and also General Manager of the Costa
Linda Beach Resort. Together with CEDE Aruba, a dynamic com-
munity foundation and supporting nonprofits in Aruba since 1986,
they launched Aruba’s Visitor Charity Program. This is a new plat- How does it help Aruban youth
form for all visitors who would like to give a little bit of kindness to Millions of people around the world
our community. The first digital donation kiosks in the Caribbean love Aruba, the ONE HAPPY ISLAND
are inaugurated for this reason, among others at the Costa Linda and the home away from home!
Beach Resort, Playa Linda Beach Resort and Casa del Mar Beach Tourism in Aruba is performing well.
Resort & Timeshare. However, in Aruba, about six of ten
youngsters between the ages of 12
Heredia explained to a handful of guests of the resort what this and 18 are alone or without adult
Happy Community Initiative is about and how easy it actually supervision after school time. In most
is to make a donation by using the kiosk or through the website cases because their parents are
www.happycommunityaruba.org. In addition, some resorts will working. In addition, many of Aru-
offer the possibility to make a donation at the checkout. Daniel ba’s youngsters do not travel often
Tecklenborg is the director of CEDE Aruba, and they initiated this and experience boredom and lack
visitor charity program that is also endorsed by the Aruba Tourism of activities during school vacations.
Authority (ATA). This will be a platform for all visitors who would like Furthermore, four out of ten Aruban
to make a donation, but also volunteer in the future. The priority youngsters do not finish secondary
is set to support projects for the Aruban youth. CEDE Aruba will school. This is a very big issue for Aru-
make sure that the donations reach meaningful projects of local ba’s future economy and the tour-
non-profits and upon quality and transparent finances of the of- ism industry.
fered programs. This way you can be assured that your donation
will hit its goal! During a recent investigation, more
than 60% of Aruba’s youth is asking
for afterschool programs, aiming at
sports, cooking, art programs and a
safe place to hang out with friends.
More than 50 non-profit organiza-
tions are motivated to contribute
to a national program. Your dona-
tion will help us to start and support for youngsters to integrate back in
after school programs with a focus education and to find a career in
on time for homework and diverse, one of Aruba’s countless compa-
meaningful activities. In addition, nies.
your donation will support mentor-
ship activities during school vaca- Get engaged, inspired and con-
tion and support projects aiming at nected with our local community.
youth at risk. Last but not least, your Let’s build a bridge between com-
donation will support projects that munity organizations and the tourism
reduce the amounts of school drop- industry. Let’s keep Aruba’s youth
outs and create new opportunities happy!q

Happy Community Initiative Aruba
CEDE Aruba
Beatrixstraat 8, Oranjstad, Aruba
https://happycommunityaruba.org/
Phone: +297 582.7666
Email: info@happycommunityaruba.org