Blog Posts

As part of Open Monuments Day, we had the unique opportunity to volunteer at the Nicolaas Store for one day. This event gave us a behind-the-scenes look at how local museums operate during this special cultural celebration. Our main responsibilities included stamping visitor cards as they entered and helping guide guests through the museum. Throughout the day, we met visitors from all ages and backgrounds who were curious and excited to learn about the history of the building and its exhibits. Volunteering gave us a sense of connection to the community and to the rich history preserved in the museum. We also had a chance to learn more about the Water tower, Artisa, and a small greenhouse with a rich heritage. Overall, it was a fun, educational, and meaningful experience that we’ll remember fondly!

I’ve had the incredible opportunity to volunteer and help build a syntropic garden from scratch, and it has been such a rewarding experience! The process started with planting seeds and young plants, getting my hands dirty in the soil, and feeling connected to the earth. Then watering the garden, carefully tending to the plants, and watching them grow day by day. Nature truly works its magic, and it’s amazing to see the little seeds transform into a thriving ecosystem. The best part? Harvesting the fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs that we worked so hard to nurture. There’s something so special about picking homegrown produce and knowing it’s all thanks to the collective effort. Finally, I created a recipe from my country Greece. A delicious meal using local Aruban harvest, and I can’t describe the joy of enjoying a meal made entirely from the garden’s bounty. This experience has taught me so much about sustainability, patience, and the beauty of growing food. I’m so grateful for the chance to be part of this journey and can’t wait to continue helping the garden grow and contribute in projects like this!

From caring for animals at a shelter to helping at a swimming tournament. Supporting nursing homes, planting fruit trees in schools, and even assisting at a skateboarding school, every experience has been heartwarming and eye-opening. Each opportunity brought me together with kind-hearted and passionate individuals from Europe, the Caribbean, and South America, creating a beautiful cultural exchange along the way.

So far I want to share two experiences I had as a volunteer, helping to build a garden at a school was a heartwarming experience and we were a group of all ages coming together, to help the kids at school have nature closer to them, it was a beautiful and fulfilling work! Also when I helped to paint and renovate a “cunucu house”, I learned more about the locals, their life stories and experiences, you get to connect with people in a more simple way and it’s fun to be active! Gladly looking forward for more upcoming events!

I will stay in Aruba for half a year and besides my regular work, I very much like to do volunteer work to learn a little bit about the Aruban culture and to get to know the locals. Aruba Volunteers is a great platform to find different type of volunteer work. Past week I had the opportunity of volunteering for two sports activities. At the House of Skate I helped the children with their equipment and at the Aruba Dolphins I helped during their yearly swimming competition. It was an incredibly rewarding experience! From the moment I arrived, the energy was amazing, with swimmers and families buzzing with excitement! Once the races began, I transitioned to the timing station, where I helped record times and ensure everything ran smoothly. Throughout the competition, I witnessed some impressive performances and heartwarming moments, like young swimmers encouraging each other and celebrating personal bests. The sense of community was inspiring, and it was fulfilling to contribute to such a positive atmosphere at both events! The event ended with entertainment from a brass band, something I had never witnessed before. This was very nice to experience.

When I began volunteering at the hospice a year ago, I thought I understood what I was stepping into - a place where sadness loomed heavy in the air, where people came to say goodbye. But what I found was so different. I found the hospice to be a regular home filled with warmth, laughter, and life. Here, our guests are not patients; they are people with rich stories, love, and a quiet dignity. And they are here not to wait but to live in the time they have left. One guest who touched me deeply was Ms. Martina. She came to the hospice with a diagnosis of end-stage cancer, and she accepted her fate with such grace and courage that she inspired everyone around her. The calmness with which she faced her fate was not only a testament to her courage but also to her profound inner peace. It was as if she had made her peace with the threads of destiny, embracing her journey with an open heart. I remember my early days with her. Once, while helping her from her wheelchair to her bed, I fumbled. I struggled to support her, and in a panic, I called for the nurse. I felt mortified and unfit for the task. But Ms. Martina, with her gentle smile, reassured me. "It's okay, dear, you're learning," she said softly, her voice full of patience. The nurse arrived and guided me. We managed it together. There was no frustration, no impatience - only kindness and understanding from Ms. Martina and the nurse. The nurse helped me understand that it's okay to make mistakes as long as you keep trying. One afternoon, I took Ms. Martina to the garden in her wheelchair. It was a bright day, and the flowers were in full bloom. We sat there, surrounded by the vibrant pink and green colors and the gentle rustling of leaves, and we talked - really talked. She spoke of her life's wishes, her regrets, and her achievements with a clarity and honesty that left me mesmerized. I had never experienced a conversation like that before. As I listened, I realized how rare it was to share such an intimate moment with someone. I didn't know it was possible to connect so deeply with someone I had only met twice. We talked about the things she wished she had done differently and the things she was proud of. She said she regretted not taking more time for herself, not traveling more, not being more daring. "But then again," she added, "who doesn't have regrets?" I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude that day. I was grateful to Ms. Martina for sharing her story, for trusting me with her memories, and for showing me that even in the face of death, there is so much life to be lived. It was a privilege to sit there, holding her hand, sharing her burdens and happiness. Ms. Martina spoke about the work she used to do with pride. She loved helping people relax and find comfort, something she continued to do even in her final days, simply through her presence. But what she cherished even more than her work were children - especially her grandchildren. Her face would light up whenever she talked about them, her voice filled with love and joy. A few days before Ms. Martina passed, a group of children from the local church came to sing for her. I was not there to witness it. I only heard about it from the nurse, who told me how Ms. Martina lay in bed, smiling softly as the children's voices filled her room. I could imagine it vividly - the warmth of the moment, the music lifting her spirits in a way that no medicine ever could. It comforted me to know that Ms. Martina, who loved children so dearly, had been surrounded by their innocence and sweetness in those last peaceful days. Volunteering at the hospice has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. It's not always easy; I've made mistakes, feel overwhelmed, and sometimes wonder if I'm making a difference. But Ms. Martina taught me that perfection isn't necessary - what matters is showing up, offering kindness, and being present in the small moments. Even though I didn't see the children sing for Ms. Martina, I felt their gift to her in my heart. And I was reminded of how simple acts of love can make such a difference. And I hope Ms. Martina's story inspires more people to volunteer. You don't need to have all the answers or be perfect. You just need to be there, willing to listen, to help, and to share in the journey of those living their final days with grace. Because in the end, it's not about saying goodbye. It's about being part of someone's final chapter, offering them a little more peace, a bit more joy, and a lot of love. It's about accepting, as Ms. Martina did, the way life unfolds and finding beauty in each thread of destiny. Note: Ms. Martina's name and some details have been changed to protect her privacy.

Hi everyone! Together with our parents, we spent five awesome weeks helping out with Ban Lanta y Planta in Aruba, and it was so much fun! We worked with Frans and Desiree to help make a park on Mr. Biemans' land. We helped make trails, picked up trash, and planted lots of trees. Even though the park isn’t finished yet, we can see it getting better every day. There are already a lot of birds nesting around the park. We even saw a pair of shocos! Mr. Biemans, Frans, and Desiree were super nice and showed us how important it is to take care of nature. We learned a lot and had a blast working together. Thank you so much for letting us be a part of this amazing project! Joep en Tijn Fasseur

"I saw an opportunity on the Aruba Volunteers website to be a photographer for Aruba Doet, and it was an amazing experience. I took some fantastic photos that the organization is very happy with, but more importantly, I got to visit all the local organizations and experience the love and hospitality of the organizers who welcomed me and my friend with open arms. We were given guided tours, met new people, and were spoiled with good food and fun conversations. It was an unforgettable experience that we both thoroughly enjoyed. Masha danki Aruba"

"I attended a cooking workshop for people with disabilities living at Biba Bao Guia together with my 12-year-old son. I do not interact much with people with disabilities in my daily life, but I recognize them as an important group in our society. It was a very pleasant afternoon where we all learned from each other. The residents enjoyed baking pizza and eating it, and my son had a great time while also gaining a new perspective on the world. It was wonderful to be a part of such a meaningful and fun experience."

"I registered to be a coordinator for Aruba Doet, and it was an incredible experience. We had nearly 200 organizations that needed to be visited during the preparation of their project and also during the Aruba Doet weekend. We were a team of 25 coordinators and it was fun to work together and to get to know one and other and learn from each other. We all did a great job and I look forward to participating again next year."

"I attended a game morning event at SABA elderly home since I recently moved to Aruba and saw this as a great opportunity to get to know new people while doing something good for society. One of the SABA employees shared with me that they never saw a long-term resident laugh or enjoy herself as much as she did that day. I enjoyed it so much that I registered again via the website."

Why I decided to volunteer? I feel that helping is a pleasure, it gets you close to people and makes you able to offer a hand, advice and give them time, which is the most valuable thing we have. With animals I can feel the same. When I cooked as a volunteer for others, I transmitted my energie in the food, and when I give something with love for other people, that love goes into every bite. You know that people eating the food will be happy and that is enough. Adrenalin runs in my blood when I help people, and get to know their culture. Carlos Naranjo

Nothing makes you happier then helping others. Elsa

We organized a workshop for the elderly on how to use a mobile phone. It was a great success and at the end of the morning I caught one of the participants FaceTime-ing his daughter who was living abroad. He had never done this before. It was great to see and it gave us a good feeling that we had contributed to this action. Jason Ruiz - coordinator at a project of FCCA