HOPE Aruba and the Centre for Lifelong Learning (CLL) of the University of Aruba hosted a national symposium to present the newest findings of the Post-Covid Aruban Youth Monitor Quality of Life of the Aruban Youth, showing clear concerns around mental health, school experience and neighborhood safety among young people.
The Post-Covid Youth Monitor represents a unique national dataset, covering not a sample but the full population of Aruban children aged 10 to 12, as well as all students in Years 1 and 2 of special secondary education. All school boards participated, and every Grade 5 and Grade 6 student with parental permission completed the questionnaire. More than one hundred educational professionals were interviewed, and focus-group discussions with parents added essential context. Together, these efforts resulted in one of the most comprehensive youth wellbeing datasets in the region. The findings reveal interconnected challenges across mental health, school experience, family conditions and neighborhood environments. Many young people report emotional strain, limited support in school, stress at home and concerns about safety in their communities.
The research was led by Dr. Paula Kibbelaar of the Instituto Pedagógico Arubano, with quantitative analysis by Professor Dr. Annemarie Slotboom and Professor Dr. Jan Hendriks of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. The research team was supported by IPA professionals Janneke Dapper, Gregory Goedgedrag, Rainier Kock, Marvin Odor and Marlene de Cuba. Minister of Education, Youth, Innovation, Kingdom Relations and Sport, Mrs. Gerlien Croes, emphasized in her opening speech, the importance of using these findings to improve youth support and development, underscoring the need for united action with the message: “Nos tin cu uni, nos tin cu actua.”
The symposium featured a Youth Panel with representatives from Parlamento Hubenil moderated by Jessica Besselink, Project Officer of HOPE Aruba. The young participants shared honest reflections on their daily realities and offered essential perspectives that grounded the research in lived experience. The symposium took place shortly after Aruba celebrated the Day of the Rights of the Child, reaffirming the commitment to ensuring every child is heard, protected and supported. The presence of youth representatives was therefore especially meaningful, demonstrating the value of giving young people a genuine voice in discussions and decisions that shape their lives.
An Expert Panel moderated by Michele Brooks provided deeper insight into the meaning behind the data. Panelists Raymicheline (Misha) Raymond, Jonathan Trinidad, Dalgis Montalve and Jennifer Margaretha discussed the links between home, school and neighborhood; the need for accessible parenting support; teacher capacity and school wellbeing; neighborhood conditions; and the importance of institutionalizing the Youth Monitor as a recurring tool to drive early intervention and long-term policy development.
As an organization dedicated to social transformation, empowering individuals and connecting organizations, HOPE Aruba recognizes that these findings demand more than concern; they require coordinated action rooted in evidence, collaboration and compassion. The evening concluded with acknowledgment of all partners, including the Government of Aruba, Departamento di Enseñansa, the Instituto Pedagógico Arubano, the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Centre for Lifelong Learning at the University of Aruba and the broader community of educators and families who contributed to the study.
Aruba now has the data, and HOPE Aruba calls on all partners to unite in transforming these findings into coordinated, concrete action that strengthens, supports and protects the wellbeing of every child.
