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Saturday 8 June 2019

Social entrepreneur James Ocalia in cooperation with HopeAruba Movement

‘Sustainable agriculture for healthier locals and rehabilitated drug addicts’

Maybe it is best described as pure: the land, myself want to make a difference for my island
the taste of the vegetables, the drive of the stu- with my passion: sustainable agriculture. My
dents and the sincerity of James, all together goal is that locals include the typical Aruban
it is ‘Hope’ indeed. On the 7.000 m2 land only veggies in their food system and eat healthier.”
local crops are grown: comcomber chiquito He has a thing for Aruba’s traditional vegeta-
(cucumber), jambo (okra), boonchi (beans), bles and fruits, since he was a kid. “I wrote a
pika (hot peppers) form the main production. book, ‘My favorite Curacaos and Aruban Dish-
But one can also find patia (watermelon) and es’, and found myself asking my granny how
dragon fruit as well as moringa. The plants are actually to prepare traditional dishes with local
seeded and grown in the nursery, built by the veggies. That is not right, we need to implement
students, and when strong enough being trans- them into modern cooking to preserve these
ferred to the land. treasures of culture. Italians may have their zuc-
chini and tomatoes, Aruba has her comcomb-
How it Began er chiquito and jambo. Our generation does
Aruba is a nation of hopeful individuals, who not know how to cook our own veggies, we are
want the best for their island. It is a fact that the often keen on preparing meals from the Italian
social challenges facing our island affect us all or other foreign gastronomy, but what about
in one way or another. Whether it is child abuse our own culture?” His story creates a curiosity
or neglect, domestic violence, life-controlling towards the real taste of local gastronomy. “In
addictions, the high rate of high-school drop my opinion three ingredients are necessary to
outs, increasing poverty, etc. etc., when one is develop social enterprise: the social aspect,
affected, we are all affected. While HopeAruba the environmental aspect and support by eco-
Movement understands that it is the role of gov- nomic pillars, in Aruba’s case tourism.”q
NOORD - Somewhere uphill in Alto Vista you ernment to be the primary catalyst in providing
will find a beautiful piece of land with an old, the framework, platform and financing for ad-
white, traditional cunucu house on it, dating dressing these social challenges, they also un-
from 1923. Nothing remarkable about that, you derstand that the government is not necessarily
might think, as there are many of these old aun- the only agent to heal these issues. Understand-
ties scattered around the island. But this one has ing both our responsibility and privilege as citi-
an amazing background story. Aruba Today zens, whether individual or corporate, to play
visited the place on a warm, sticky afternoon an active part in creating the future we want to
where James Ocalia was working on the land see, is critical if we are to heal our nation, they
with a handful other men. state.

‘Cas Speransa Nobo’ says the name sign on We must understand the severe consequences
the cunucu house, it refers to the new hope for of the long-term mismanagement of Public Fi-
the students of the rehabilitation program that nances and how this affects us all, directly or
is available here. “We call them students rather indirectly. Government financial aid for social
than drug addicts or clients because they have organizations has dropped by more than 50% in
chosen to learn another life. Their addict life is the past years. So what are we to do? A group
their past, the goal is to learn and graduate in of citizens decided…we will start by taking re-
a new life.” The Aruban Ocalia explains that he sponsibility! This prompted the birth of HopeA-
runs his company –Goshen, which means ‘in- ruba Movement’s first Social Impact Business,
undated land’ - with the help of the men that Goshen Sustainable Development Corporation
are part of the rehabilitation program. “They VBA and HopeAruba’s first Social Impact Vehi-
learn to cultivate local crops and it works in two cle under the HopeAruba Fundacion Restaura-
ways. For them it is a subject they learn and a cion banner Cas Speransa Nobo.
daily goal in life, for me it is exercising my job
and doing something good for my island at the “We developed the Goshen Smoothie and we
same time.” Recently Goshen Organic Farm started to develop an Agri-Tourism niche “Farm
was visited by an expert on the field of water to Table” experience, a unique experience for
production, professor dr. engineer Filomeno our visitors …a true “taste of Aruba”. Now open: If you wish to visit Goshen Sustainable
Development/Cas Speransa Nobo and buy
A. Marchena (Boei). The farm recycles water - Goshen Villas - A Bed & Breakfast concept some local vegetables, you are welcome
already and during the visit Marchena shared and Momentous Café at Goshen at Alto Vista TODAY at Alto Vista 52 between 10 am and
some useful information with Ocalia. 52, as we grow our business to provide entre- 12.30 pm. Facebook: Goshen Sustainable
preneurial solutions to social challenges. And of Development Corporation VBA.
Fair Harvest course, Goshen’s main purpose is to support ve-
While we are walking on the land the students hicles for social change as we engage in busi- Get your fresh organic veggies straight from our
farm to your table! Choose from: Comcomber
enthusiastically show ‘their crops’, inviting Aru- ness with a purpose, we can be an instrument chikito, Boonchi, Yambo, Pure honey with comb
ba Today’s journalist to taste a comcomber for national transformation!” and Watermelon. While you’re there, try their
chiquito. The pride they take in their work and refreshing Goshen Smoothie, also available in
their smiling faces are touching and there is Make a difference frozen packages to prepare at home.
definitely something magic about this place. To make a difference is where both connect. “I