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Island Gems SupportsAnimal Care Groups

CAY HILL — The stray and unwanted pet population on the island continues to be a challenge for residents, visitors and the animal care organisations working tirelessly to curb the problem on both sides of the island. To this end, Island Gems Charity Foundation has made its annual donation to three very active groups to aid with spay/neuter campaign and awareness.

Receiving each US $750 in vet care coverage via St. Maarten Veterinary Clinic are St. Maarten Animal Welfare Foundation, SXM Paws and I Love My Island Dog Association Read more

Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School Leads The Way With Soualichi Stories

Philipsburg, St. Maarten Imagine a classroom where history comes to life, where lessons are woven into captivating tales, and where students eagerly embrace the art of storytelling. Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School has embarked on a journey that promises just thata journey powered by Soualichi Stories, where the age-old magic of storytelling meets modern education techniques.

Over 30 members of the school’s staff participated in a training workshop aimed at utilizing Soualichi Stories within their curriculum, thus starting an interesting chapter in enhancing education techniques using old-time storytelling.

In the wake of the Season Three launch of Soualichi Stories, Foresee Foundation and the team of Soualichi Stories have set out to make the island’s rich oral heritage an integral part of the local educational system.

The aim? To spark inspiration, cultivate imagination, and encourage meaningful dialogue among students Read more

Successful 8Th Hurex At Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School Concluded

Cay Hill- For the 8th time, the Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School in Cay Hill was honored to assist the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps by providing them with a command center for yet another annual hurricane exercise – HUREX. Between May 1-9, approximately 300 Marines from Sint Maarten, Aruba, and Curacao practiced and simulated different hurricane scenarios at multiple locations in Dutch Sint Maarten.

This preparation exercise is designed to train the soldiers to get themselves and their equipment set up as quickly as possible in the event of another major Hurricane Read more

Island Gems SupportsNpos Strengthening

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Non-profit Organisations (NPOs) are the vehicle via which much support and improvement within the community evolve and develop. It is for this reason that Island Gems Charity Foundation saw it fit to be a partner of NPOwers Connect and Inspire Conference set for February 23 to 25.

Learning about the conference and already being aware of the NPO capacity building work of NPOwer, a programme of Foresee Foundation, Island Gems opted to support this furthering of knowledge for this important pillar of society Read more

Island Gems Donates Copies Of Stories Of St. Martin To Schools

CUL DE SAC Island Gems Charity Foundation donated copies of the locally published Stories of St. Martinbook to schools on the Dutch side of the island. The book, produced by Association Les Fruits de Mer, tells the story of twelve St. Martiners, the collective name for people on both sides of the island, in their own words.

These stories were recorded on St. Martin between 2016 and 2021. They tell us about salt and salt harvesting, storms and renewal, work and service, and local traditions Read more

Trust FundS School Repair Program Completes 3 More Schools

EBENEZER, Sint Maarten With work completed at Milton Peters College (MPC), Methodist Agogic Centre (MAC) Comprehensive Secondary Education, and St. Dominic High School, a total of six (6) schools have now been repaired through the Sint Maarten Trust Fund.

The programs scope of work includes fixing roofs, doors, and windows, as well as mold remediation, plumbing, and minor electrical work. The contractor also installed new aluminum shutters on doors and windows where necessary.

In the case of MAC, additional structural interventions had to be done to improve the schools resilience to natural disasters Read more

7Th Hurex At Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School, Saba, Statia

Cay Hill, Sint Maarten — For the 7th time, the Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School in Cay Hill is honored to assist the Netherlands Marine Corps by providing them with a command center for yet another annual hurricane exercise HUREX.

Between September 14 28, approximately 80 Marines from Sint Maarten, Aruba, and
Curacao will practice and simulate different hurricane scenarios at multiple locations on Dutch Sint Maarten Read more

Continue To Be Proud Of Your Mouth Cps Tells Students

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA) Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department within the ministry, would like to thank all the schools that participated in this years World Oral Health Day (WOHD) 2022 in March.

A CPS representatives said that students delivered some beautiful artwork and urged them to continue being Proud of Your Mouth.

The schools that participated for World Oral Health Art Competition were St Read more

Island Gems Supports Awf Spay/Neuter Campaign

POINTE BLANCHE, Sint Maarten —A few more dogs and cats have been sterilized thanks to support given to Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) by Island Gems Charity Foundation.

As Island Gems does not give funds to any group, a total of US $750 was paid for the sterilization operations by the vet. These funds will supplement AWFs ongoing spay/neuter campaign aimed at curtailing the stray and unwanted dog and cat population on the island.

Since its founding in 1992, AWF has facilitated 3,363 adoptions, 14,794 sterilizations, 947 mange treatments, and 18356 taxi rides to the vet Read more

Stb: #Caribbeancomeback Kicks Off Caribbean Tourism Month Awareness Activities

SINT MAARTEN, PHILIPSBURG The Sint Maarten Tourism Bureau (STB), kicked-off in early November a number of activities marking Caribbean Tourism Month (CTM) 2021 under the theme, Caribbean Comeback.

STB is celebrating the entire month of November with several focused Tourism Educational Programs, Activities and Documentaries.

Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs Hon. Roger Lawrence said that tourism is our main economic pillar and contributes to 85 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Read more

Island Gems Presents Laptops To Two Valedictorians

DUTCH QUARTER, Sint Maarten The valedictorians of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School and Helmich Snijders Hillside Christian School were rewarded with laptops for their academic achievement by Island Gems Charity Foundation. The two valedictorians are both headed to Milton Peters College come the new school year.

Brittany Lake is the valedictorian of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School. She also took home the top honours in mathematics and Dutch language. She received her laptop from Island Gems Varsha Punjabi and Astrid Plantz-Gartner.

Marianelly Zorrilla Cruz is the valedictorian of Hillside Christian Primary School Read more

Resources 4 Community Resilience Launches Us$452K In Local Projects

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — The Resources 4 Community Resilience (R4CR) project was officially launched during a Zoom meeting and Facebook livestream on Wednesday November 18. The ceremony was hosted by radio personality Kevin Suppa Petrona (who is also the local R4CR Communication and Outreach expert) and Jose Sommers (R4CR Capacity and Training Manager). The R4CR program is a grant scheme that focuses exclusively on financing and strengthening local Civil Society Organization (CSOs).

The program is financed by the Government of the Netherlands via the St Read more

Island Gems Adds Colour To St. MartinS Home With Tablecloths

ST. JOHNS ESTATE, St. Maarten – A beautiful surroundings can lift spirits and boost ones mood and this is what a donation to the St. Martins Home made by the all-women Island Gems Charity Foundation sought to do. The donation comprised several tablecloths and table runners.

The home for the countrys senior citizens, operated by the White and Yellow Cross Care Foundation WYCCF, celebrates many occasions covering those on the official calendar of events to birthdays and other special moments Read more

Reopening Of Schools On Track ‘School Board Meeting Fruitful’

PHILIPSBURG – The opening of school is on track with the Minister of Education, Culture Youth and Sport’s vision and goal. On Friday October 29th, the School boards met with the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (MECYS), the honorable Silveria Jacobs and the MECYS Recovery Team for the final meeting before the reopening of schools Read more

Updated Information On The Reopening Of School

PHILIPSBURG—The Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport is currently still on target for the reopening of schools. The soft opening of school is set for September 28th, 2017. The soft opening will consists of students assessing their school materials, and speaking with their teachers, peers and guidance counselors. The official start date will be October 2nd, 2017.

The Foundation Catholic Education school board consisting of the St. Dominic Primary and High School, the Sister Regina Primary School, the St Read more

Top Foundation Based Exit Exam Students Honored

PHILIPSBURG – The top students of the Foundation Based Exit (FBE) Exams were honored with a ceremony at the New Government Building on Monday, July 3.

Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS) Silveria Jacobs ensured that the tradition of honoring the top elementary students continued. The students were invited to a ceremony, where they were either nominated for the overall nationwide top students, or top student(s) in a subject Read more

Cops And Kids/ School Debate Finals

On Wednesday June 14th the Community Police Officers who headed the Cops and Kids Program held the school debate finals at the Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School in Cay Hill. The debate finals were held between students of the sixth grade representing the Seventh Day Adventist School, Sister Borgia School, Oranje School and Ruby Labega School.

During the first round, the Ruby Labega School defeated the Sister Borgia School eliminating them from moving on to the quarter finals Read more

Dynamics Excels In Track & Field

CAYHILL, Sint Maarten — There is lots of potential in many of our athletes here on the island, and it is quite evident at the Dynamics Sporting Club, a Track & Field Club for youths between the ages of 6-18 years old. 721 News had the opportunity to speak with Coach Abdule Wattley and some of the athletes during their weekly practice session at the Raul illidge Sports Complex.

Coach Wattley is currently a physical education teacher at both the Hillside Christian Elementary School and the Asha Stevens Elementary School for the past six years Read more

Victorious Living Celebrates 15 Years & Hosting Leadercast For 5 Years

Leadercast Registration deadline May 1st

Belair, St Maarten —  Leadercast Live 2017, the largest one day global leadership conference, hosted locally by Victorious Living Foundation via live simulcast is only one week away. As the excitement mounts, over 100 persons have already registered for this transformational experience hosted consecutively on St. Martin by Victorious Living for the past five years.

The theme for Leadercast 2017 is “Powered by Purpose.” Headliners at this year’s event include the world renowned director, playwright, producer and philanthropist, Tyler Perry; Dr Read more

Rotary Sunrise Congratulates Winners Of Butterfly Story Book Contest: Khushi J. Soneji And Nagely Andular Vargas

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean, District 7020 Butterfly Story writing contest was recently concluded and with much appreciation to our young authors, Rotary Sunrise heartily congratulates Khushi Soneji and Nagely Andular Vargas for emerging as the overall winners. The Gift of Listening by Khushi J. Soneji of the Methodist Agogic Center and The Girl with the Well-Worn Uniform by Nagely Andujar Vargas of Ruby Labega school emerged as the two best stories from the 14 stories submitted from St Read more

Rotary Sunrise Celebrates It’S Members

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — As the Rotary Year 2016-2017 advances in this 4th quarter of the year, the Rotary club of St. Martin Sunrise celebrates it’s membership by highlighting a couple of persons each week. This is an effort that commenced in August last year as part of Rotary’s Membership Month., a month of significance when the club seeks various ways to motivate membership and reach out to potential new Rotarians.

In this profile highlight, Rotary Sunrise introduces two of our great members, Ms Read more

Vlf’S Leadership Workshop With Nelson Els Leaves Lasting Impact

CAY HILL – On Saturday, March 4, the Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School in Cay Hill came alive with 65 leaders and aspiring leaders ranging from 13 to 70 years, who eagerly and thankfully digested the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, by John Maxwell, facilitated by certified John Maxwell Coach Nelson Els.

Victorious Living Foundation (VLF), who hosted this transformational leadership workshop and mastermind, is pleased with the growing interest among the St Read more

Island Gems Charity Foundation Donated A Large Freezer

Island Gems Charity Foundation recently donated a large freezer to the Hope Outreach Foster Home Foundation. Antonia Hodge of the home, was approached by Island Gems about the immediate needs of the foster home. A freezer was high on the list, and that was bought by the charity foundation.

Island Gems raises funds for projects such as this at its annual costume gala. This year’s gala is set for Saturday, April 8, at Captain Oliver’s restaurant. Tickets cost US $125 each and are available from all Island Gems members Read more

Vlf Thanks Partners, Public For Support In 2016

PHILIPSBURG – The visionary of Victorious Living Dr. Erna Mae Francis-Cotton and board members sincerely thank VLF’s partners, volunteers, clients, supporters and members of the press and general public for helping them to make a significant difference in 2016.

This past year yielded much transformation in the lives of the people that Victorious Living touches, from transformation in marriages, increased growth in the lives of young and old, and family restoration.

In addition, many lives were transformed through VLF’s fourth hosting of the premiere one-day leadership simulcast conference Leadercast; facilitation of a successful marriage and singles retreat for the pastors and spouses of the Moravian Church Eastern West Indies Province; and a grief workshop that VLF’s visionary facilitated for the St Read more