Ban Biba Barió Strengthens Neighborhoods Across Curaçao and Aruba with Community Grants
Ban Biba Barió supports the revival of neighborhoods in Curaçao and Aruba by encouraging residents, community groups, and grassroots organizations to take the lead in shaping their own barios. The program focuses on strengthening social cohesion and building more sustainable, inclusive communities, supporting global goals like SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being, and SDG 13 Climate Action.
Ban Biba Barió is a partnership between Unidat di Bario Kòrsou (UdBK) and CEDE Aruba, made possible with support from the Buurtfonds Nationale Postcodeloterij. It is designed as a two year pilot that offers small grants and hands-on guidance for neighborhood-led projects. These grants range from 1,000 to 10,000 Cg./AWG. and aim to bring community ideas to life, from sports and culture to education, horticulture, social well-being, recycling, and public space improvement.
Examples include modernizing community centers, organizing workshops, improving green spaces, launching community gardens, supporting animal welfare, and offering initiatives that help residents facing challenges such as loneliness, mental health issues, or limited access to resources. The program also encourages poverty alleviation efforts that build resilience, such as education initiatives and social enterprise development.
Ban Biba Barió promotes neighborhood participation through resident driven decision making. This aligns with regional efforts to strengthen community resilience and social inclusion, making the program a key contributor to long term local development.
Ban Biba Bario is a cooperation between Unidat di Bario Kòrsou (UdBK) and CEDE ARUBA, supported by Buurtfonds Nationale Postcodeloterij
CEDE ARUBA, also known as Centro Pa Desaroyo di Aruba, is a development organization that aims to promote sustainable development by bringing together people and resources. The organization is committed to addressing socioeconomic and social problems in Aruba by facilitating connections between target groups and promoting social and educational development opportunities. Their ultimate goal is to create a community where individuals of all ages and backgrounds have the opportunity to develop themselves.
Undidat di Bario Korsou was founded in 1995 and collaborates with all neighborhood organizations in Curacao with a focus on promoting the well-being of the community. This is achieved through organizing socio-educational, socio-cultural, socio-economic, and recreational activities. In recent years, UDBK has been working towards raising awareness among society about the position and importance of the neighborhood as a unit.
The Postcode Loterij Buurtfonds (Postcode Lottery Neighborhood Fund) supports all kinds of community initiatives in the Netherlands, both big and small, ranging from simple improvements to innovative, high-impact projects. Funding for these initiatives is made possible by participants of the Nationale Postcode Loterij (Dutch Postcode Lottery). Execution is managed by Stichting DOEN (DOEN Foundation).
