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SUPPORT

for neighborhood initiatives
in Curacao and Aruba 

Welcome to BAN BiBA BAR!O 

BAN BiBA BAR!O is a call to reignite the spark and revive our neighborhoods through community empowerment. Our "Bario’s" are where we live, where our children play, where adults interact with one another, and where our elders gather. The development of our neighborhoods is of great importance, and “Ban Biba Bario” is there to invite the neighborhoods of Aruba and Curacao to actively participate in the development of their “Bario’s”. 

What is BAN BiBA BAR!O: 
BAN BiBA BAR!O is a cooperation between Unidat di Bario Kòrsou (UdBK) and CEDE ARUBA, supported by Buurtfonds Nationale Postcodeloterij. It is a 2-year pilot program to support neighborhood initiatives with small grants and practical help. 

Program Objectives: 
Strengthen social cohesion and empower community initiatives to improve our neighborhoods and make them more sustainable, with special attention to inclusion and participation of vulnerable groups. The program aims to bring citizen and neighborhood based organizations together and to support their ideas for a better neighborhood. 

Program Information:

Projects that entail a series of consecutive activities are eligible for funding. These projects must have a minimum grant amount of 1,000 ANG/AW and a maximum grant amount of 10,000 ANG/AW.

Who can apply

Community-based organizations, Residents, or Grassroots (informal) organizations are eligible to apply for Ban Biba Bario and are encouraged to apply. Applications will be submitted, and grants awarded following an evaluation against the program criteria.

Project activities can cover 

​thematic categories such as: ​

  • Community (centers)/neighborhood initiatives and initiatives for neighborhood development.
  • Projects may entail sports, education, horticulture, cultural, art, and recreational activities such as strategies to activate neighborhoods and stimulate collaborations.
  • Revival and modernization of Community Centers and/or community spaces.
  • Nature and environment (re-/upcycling) and animal welfare activities.
  • Neighborhood-based initiatives to improve health and social-emotional well-being by offering information and support to facilitate access to professional help and resources for people who may be struggling with issues such as loneliness, mental health, alcoholism, single parenting, and other (social) issues in the neighborhood
  • Community awareness/know-your-neighborhood, access to vital information, neighborhood cleanliness and beautification.
  • Poverty alleviation initiatives/projects - with the aim to educate and empower the community to be more resilient in situations of food shortages and other challenges. Examples of eligible projects include alternative trading systems, educational workshops, social enterprise promotion, and community gardens, etc. Please note that projects that solely assist with meals or food packages are not eligible for this grant.
  • Activities to promote connectivity, e.g. social media training.
  • Activities promoting attention for children and young people.
  • Activities promoting attention for the elderly.
  • Initiatives for (Youth) employment/entrepreneurship.
  • Skills development like digital literacy, auto repair, and project management.

What type of projects are 

NOT eligible


Activities that take place as one-time events, like anniversaries parties, conferences, Christmas dinners, etc. are not eligible. In addition, activities that are already taking place as structural activities withing the organizations are not eligible. The initiatives have to be new and innovative. If organizations request funding for a partial material investment, it has to be combined with new activities of the organization - purely material projects are not eligible.

Tell us
about your idea 

Applicants may choose their preferred way to submit a pre-application in their preferred language (Papiamento, Dutch, English); they can:

• Make a video and send the video to the project coordinator. 
• Write a short document (1 pager) with a global description of the project. 
• Request a meeting with the project coordinator to discuss the project idea.

The Project Coordinator will evaluate the ideas based on the program criteria and subsequently inform the applicant if the project can be submitted.  

Application Portal 
If the idea seems to be eligible for funding, applicants will be encouraged to create a login and register to the grantee portal. After registration, the applicant can submit the application online and upload the project proposal along with all the necessary attachments. Applicants can complete this process independently or request support. Support can be provided either at the UdBK Curacao or CEDE ARUBA. We can also make an appointment in your neighborhood.


Apply

When to apply

The application process is open *as per May 3rd, 2024. The first application deadline is June 15th, 2024.
Applicants can apply for financial support up to 1x per year.

Evaluation 
After a completed administrative check and assessment of the proposal, a project committee will make the final decision on awarding the grant. Evaluation Criteria:


Part I: Basic Information (maximum score: 20 points). Is the project clearly explained, can the organization handle it, does it fit with the goals, is it well planned?


Part II: Impact and Feasibility (maximum score: 20 points). Impact of the project on the community? Is it something that can realistically happen?


Part III: Creativity and participation (maximum score: 10 points). This section considers how creative and involved the project is with the local community.

Updates and Announcements

Pending

Success Stories

About Us  



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 Neighbourhood 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). www.postcodeloterijbuurtfonds.nl