KRALENDIJK – A group of secondary school students on Bonaire spent two weeks intensively learning Dutch during the Summerschool organised by Stichting Lezen en Schrijven (Foundation for Reading and Writing). The participants are predominantly young newcomers, including from Latin America and Haiti. The programme concluded on 14 August with a certificate ceremony.
The Summerschool combined language lessons in the morning with an afternoon programme of activities. The lessons were taught by professional teachers and focused on learning and applying Dutch. Dutch was also the language of instruction during the afternoon activities, giving participants the opportunity to practise the language in real-life situations.
Presentation for certificate
To receive the certificate, participants had to give a presentation in Dutch. The island’s governor (gezaghebber) of Bonaire was also present at the closing ceremony. He addressed the young people about the importance of education, development and opportunity.
Funding
The Summerschool has been organised for several years. In previous years, support came from Cargill; this year the programme was made possible in part by Rotary.
According to Stichting Lezen en Schrijven, the programme not only improves language skills but also builds self-confidence among participants.
