Stichting HUNTO marked a historic moment yesterday with the official launch of its United Mobil, a mobile trailer created to assist and motivate people suffering from street addiction. The project is considered a significant achievement for the foundation, following years of work, dedication, and collaboration with national and international partners.
According to board member Randal van Tricht, who is responsible for the organization’s financial area, the realization of the United trailer is the result of the love, passion, and professionalism of everyone who believed in the project.
“The United trailer is a very big achievement. Many people did not believe it was possible, but when there is dedication, professionalism, and a serious financial base, you can achieve great things,” Van Tricht said.
Four Pillars for Recovery
The United Mobil is part of a four-pillar system developed by Stichting HUNTO to address addiction issues in the community. According to the foundation, addiction is not a problem that can be solved with a single step; the rehabilitation process is a complex transition that requires continuous support.
The mobile unit will go directly into the streets to connect with people facing addiction problems, motivating them to take the first step in the recovery process. The goal is to guide clients from the street to the walk-in center, and later to Centro Colorado, where they can receive professional assistance and support to continue their rehabilitation process.
Stichting HUNTO indicated that significant investments have been made in all pillars to ensure a complete and modern system that can start the support process for street addicts.
Support from the Private Sector
Van Tricht also highlighted that the role of national and international partners was crucial to the project’s success. The foundation faced financial challenges after a change in government resulted in reduced funds allocated to the initiative.
“We did not want to sit idle. We decided to seek support in the private sector,” he said.
Thanks to this collaboration, several companies provided substantial financial support. Wind Creek contributed USD 100,000, while CEDE Aruba and Aruba Bank each contributed Afl. 100,000 to support the initiative.
International Cooperation
In addition to local support, Stichting HUNTO received assistance from international partners. Among them are Impact Cadelise Consultant, a consultancy with over 20 years of experience in similar projects in the United States, and About Our Father’s Business, which helped design and develop the United trailer specifically for Aruba.
According to the foundation, the collaboration between international organizations and local institutions demonstrates that global cooperation can directly contribute to community welfare.
With the launch of the United Mobil, Stichting HUNTO hopes to significantly strengthen its capacity to address street addiction issues and guide more people toward rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
For the foundation, this initiative not only represents a social project but also an example of how collaboration between the private sector, social organizations, and international partners can generate concrete solutions to social challenges in Aruba.
