Netherlands Antilles

Promise:

Promesa di Padvindster

Mi kier trata seriamente di:
1 Sirbi Dios i mi patria,
2 Yuda tur hende kaminda mi por,
3 Biba segun lei di Padvindsternan.

Girl Guide Promise

I will earnestly try:
1 To do my duty to God and my country,
2 To help all people where possible,
3 To obey the Guide Law.

Promesa di Kabouter

Mi kier trata di ta:
1 un bon Kabouter,
2 yuda tur hende kaminda mi por,
3 sigur na kas.

Brownie Promise

I will try:
1 To be a true Brownie,
2 To help all people where possible, and also at home.

Promesa di Elvita

Mi ta priminti di ta:
1 Un bon Elvita,
2 I di stima naturalesa.

Elvita Promisa

I promise to be a true Elvita and to love nature.

Law:

Lei di Padvindster

1 Un padvindster ta honesto.

2 Un padvindster ta fiel.

3 Un padvindster ta kla pa yuda otro hende.

4 Un padvindster ta un amigu i un ruman pa tur otro padvindster.

5 Un padvindster ta kortes i atento.

6 Un padvindster ta bon pa mata i pa animal.

7 Un padvindster sa di obedesé.

8 Un padvindster ta karga kontratiempo ku konformidat.

9 Un padvindster sa di spar.

10 Un padvindster ta desente den su pensamentu, su palabra i su echo.

Girl Guide Law

1 A Girl Guide is honest.

2 A Girl Guide is loyal.

3 A Girl Guide is willing to help.

4 A Girl Guide is a friend to all and a sister to all Guides.

5 A Girl Guide is courteous and attentive.

6 A Girl Guide cares for plants and animals.

7 A Girl Guide is obedient.

8 A Girl Guide accepts disappointments with cheerfulness.

9 A Girl Guide is thrifty.

10 A Girl Guide is pure in thought, in word and in deed.

Lei di Kabouter

1 Un kabouter ta honesto.

2 Un kabouter ta obesesido.

3 Un kabouter ta amabel.

4 Un kabouter ta bon pa mata i bestia.

Brownie Law

1 A Brownie is honest.

2 A Brownie is obedient.

3 A Brownie is friendly.

4 A Brownie is kind to plants and animals.

Motto:

Motto di Padvindster - Sea Prepará

Girl Guide Motto - Be Prepared

Motto di Kabouter - Ban komparti

Brownie Motto - Let Us Share

Motto di Elvita - Ban hasi otro kontentu

Elvita Motto - Let us make other people happy

Age groups:

Pionier Ranger 17+

Senior Padvindster Senior Guide 13-17

Junior Padvindster Junior Guide 10-13

Kabouter Brownie 7-10

Elvita Pre-Brownie 4-6

Development of the movement:

The first Guide company in the Netherlands Antilles was opened in Curaçao in May 1930 by one of the Component Associations of The Netherlands, Het Nederlandse Padvindsters Gilde. Soon afterwards the Association became the Nederlandse Padvindstergilde Curaçao, and in the following years Guiding continued to grow with assistance in programme and training developments from Het Nederlandse Padvindsters Gilde. In 1967 Het Nederlandse Padvindsters Gilde requested WAGGGS and the Western Hemisphere Committee to work directly with the Nederlandse Padvindstergilde Curaçao in order to forge links with National Organizations in the same geographical area. In 1972 the Nederlandse Padvindstergilde Curaçao became an independent Association.

The name of the Association was changed to the Padvindstersvereniging van de Nederlandse Antillen in 1977. Guiding has spread to all areas of the island of Curaçao and to all sectors of the community. Following the objective to increase membership, the Association started in May 1993 with girls in the 4-6 years age group. They are called ”Elvita“, which name honours Mrs Norma Elisabeth-Galaraga who was the first Guide who made her Promise after Guiding was introduced on the island. The Elvita programme consists of songs, games, stories and crafts especially for this age group. In 1995, the Association expanded to the island of Bonaire, starting with the Pre-Brownie and Brownie sections.

Programme:

The programme for all age groups is planned to enable the girls to develop their character and mind, to attain a proficiency in their chosen activities and interests, to develop a willingness to help others and to gain a sense of fellowship. In 1984 the Association successfully launched the Ranger branch for girls aged 17 and over. Those who wish to continue Guiding after reaching 17 years of age are encouraged to become Rangers and take leadership training to become leaders.

Relationship to society:

Community service plays an important part in the life of the Association, and each year a special programme is launched which involves all members.

Every year, the Association undertakes work with the organization of the disabled, at a Special Olympics.

Communication and Co-operation

The Association has participated in events organized by National Organizations in neighbouring countries. It encourages members to attend international gatherings, and campaigns are planned to raise funds to cover expenses.

The annual projects undertaken by the Association have helped to make Guiding known in the community. Relations with the Government are good and the Association has been granted use of the land on which many of their troop houses stand. The Association holds occasional open houses to enable the public to learn more about the Movement.

The Association is a member of the Federation for Youth Care in the Netherlands Antilles and has good relations with the Scout Association

Training:

Training is carried out by a team which includes the Commissioner for training and trainers for Brownies and Guides. Meetings for leaders, which are usually held twice a month, also include training. Using their training scheme, the Training Team provides training from bottom to top, which includes Brownies and Board Members.

Outdoor and Environmental Activities

Camping is a popular activity among all members and the Association also holds weekend camps for leaders.

In recent years the Association ran a tree-planting project with help from the Government; each member of the Association gave a tree to another child to plant. Much publicity resulted from this project and a series of eight films were made, with financial help from a government agency. For eight weeks the films were presented by local television during a programme sponsored by the Government Cultural Department. Copies of these films were presented to the public library for use in schools and by the public in general.

* Information compiled in 1999