Stivoki wants to be back in business in 2019

“The new management team at Stichting voor het Kind (Stivoki) first wants to solve all of the problems that have existed for many years before providing shelter to children again”, said Maya Fokké, deputy chairwoman at Stivoki. The deputy chairwoman explained that one of the biggest problems is that the building must urgently be renovated. Fokké pointed out that the foundation is busy making a list of everything that must be repaired and renovated in the building. “The children must also receive counseling”, said the deputy chairwoman who added that all of the valuable stuff in the building was stolen when nobody kept an eye on the building. The local residents called the police every week to report that they had spotted burglars near the building. The burglars reportedly made off with computers, beds, mattresses, school supplies and air conditioning units. The deputy chairwoman also pointed out that the foundation still has to pay off a bank loan. The previous management team had reportedly borrowed money from a local bank to cover the wages. The current management team is reportedly led by Bishop Karel Choenie.

Fokké explained that local people are mainly needed to provide counseling to the victims. “The children are taken out of their unsafe domestic situations by the police before being taken to Stivoki. The children are given shelter and receive counseling until their homes are deemed safe again by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.” The foundation was closed in 2016 due to a lack of funds needed to pay the workers. The Ministry of Social Affairs reportedly moved the children to Tamar Children’s Home, relatives and other children’s homes. Although Stivoki receives state subsidy, it had to seek donors such as SuAid which recently launched the ‘Gi wan dalla’ campaign. As part of the Give a Dollar campaign four companies will sell a product at a discount in September. A portion of the proceeds will then be donated to SUAid.