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Statia's Mega D Youth Foundation wins a 2026 Appeltje van Oranje and €25,000
Sint Eustatius' Mega D Youth Foundation received one of three 2026 Appeltjes van Oranje awards, worth €25,000, at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague on Thursday, 8 October 2026.
By SXM Daily ·
Mega D Youth Foundation of Sint Eustatius has won one of the three 2026 Appeltjes van Oranje, the annual awards of the Dutch charity Oranje Fonds. The award was presented on Thursday, 8 October 2026, at the 24th ceremony at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague, the Government of Statia said.
Illustrative: Noordeinde Palace in The Hague. Photo: Steven Lek / Wikimedia Commons, public domain
The foundation receives €25,000 and a bronze statuette designed by Princess Beatrix. It was picked from ten nominees across the Kingdom, two of them from the Caribbean. This year's theme was "Breaking the Cycle of Poverty Together".
The foundation's Food with Heart Project gives young people aged 12 and over a warm meal after school, help with homework and activities, according to the Oranje Fonds. The young people grow part of their own food in a shared greenhouse, which also teaches farming and business skills.
Founder Dion Humphreys leads the foundation. Island Commissioner Reuben Merkman congratulated it on behalf of the Statia government.
Sint Maarten's Minister Plenipotentiary Gracita Arrindell attended the ceremony, SXM Today reported, citing her office.
Sources
- https://www.statiagovernment.com/nieuwsoverzicht/artikel/statia-government-congratulates-mega-d-youth-foundation-on-prestigious-appeltjes-van-oranje-nomination
- https://www.appeltjevanoranje.nl/mega-d-youth-foundation
- https://sxmtoday.com/news/sint-eustatius-youth-foundation-receives-appeltjes-van-oranje-award