SAN NICOLAS — The ongoing Bernhardstraat revitalization effort continues to attract support from volunteers who are contributing their time and energy to improve the appearance of the area.
Among those who joined the painting work on Saturday were Jean Irvens Georges, who is of Haitian origin and was raised in Aruba, and a group from Youth With A Mission Aruba represented by Erik de Kievit.
For several weeks, Prime Minister Mike Eman and volunteers have been spending Saturday mornings painting homes along Bernhardstraat and helping give the street a cleaner and more welcoming appearance.
The initiative continues to grow as more people decide to participate for different personal and community reasons.
Jean Irvens Georges said he first heard about the project through his father, who told him that volunteers were helping repaint homes in San Nicolas.
Georges said that because he considers Aruba his home, he also feels a responsibility to contribute to taking care of the island.
After visiting other islands and seeing how communities maintain their surroundings, he said he felt Aruba could benefit from the same sense of shared responsibility.
For Georges, wanting a cleaner environment also means being willing to help create it.
He encouraged other residents to participate, noting that some houses along Bernhardstraat had not received a fresh coat of paint in many years.
Youth With A Mission Joins Effort
Several volunteers from Youth With A Mission Aruba also joined the painting project for the first time.
Erik de Kievit explained that the organization is part of an international movement and works in Aruba with churches and other groups to strengthen families and support communities.
Youth With A Mission is already active in San Nicolas through food distribution and other outreach activities.
The organization also has female volunteers who provide support to women working in prostitution in the area.
De Kievit said participating in the Bernhardstraat project fits with the group’s broader mission of serving families and communities.
Several volunteers were on vacation but still chose to use part of their free time to help with the painting work.
Youth With A Mission hopes to continue participating when capacity allows, especially when visiting volunteer teams or families come to Aruba.
The participation of Georges and Youth With A Mission Aruba adds a community-driven dimension to the Bernhardstraat revitalization effort.
The project is progressing house by house, with volunteers showing how residents from different backgrounds can contribute to improving the neighborhood they call home.
