WILLEMSTAD – The Emmy Berthold Foundation School, a UNESCO school, has officially launched its Dutch-language book titled “Emmy Bertholdschool FO Writes.” The publication was presented during a warm and festive morning event, held in the presence of the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports (ESKD), Mr. Sithree van Heydoorn, UNESCO Secretary-General for Curaçao Ms. Marva Browne, and several invited guests.
The event marked a particularly special occasion, as Minister Van Heydoorn was named the Godfather of the book, while Ms. Browne was appointed Godmother. Minister Van Heydoorn expressed that he felt deeply honored to receive the title of Godfather and emphasized that the school holds a special place in his heart. In 2025 alone, this marked his third visit to the Emmy Berthold Foundation School. He further stressed his commitment to fulfilling his responsibilities as Godfather, a promise that was also echoed by Ms. Browne in her role as Godmother.
The project aims to encourage students to write freely and express their emotions through creative forms such as haiku, short stories, and poetry. The book is part of a broader UNESCO initiative in which four UNESCO foundation schools are participating.
The first school to produce a book written and illustrated entirely by its students was Don Sarto Foundation School in 2019, followed by San Dominico Foundation School in 2024. In 2025, it was Emmy Berthold Foundation School’s turn to proudly present its publication. The next UNESCO school scheduled to launch its own book under this project is J.W.Th. Schotborgh Foundation School, which is set to do so in 2026 on World Book and Copyright Day.
Words of gratitude were extended to everyone who contributed to the realization of the book in one way or another. The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports expressed its appreciation for the project, noting that initiatives such as this play an important role in positively promoting reading and writing skills among foundation school students.