On the 7th of November 2016, Ban Boneiru Bek organized the 10th Study & Career Fair at Jong Bonaire for the last and fore last classes of mavo/have/vwo/mbo of the schools on Bonaire. The goal of Ban Boneiru Bek was to have businesses and universities inform the students about the possibilities of studying and working both on the island and abroad, with the ultimate goal to make them enthusiastic to come back and work on Bonaire.
Promote Hospitality and Tourism
The Bonaire Hotel And Tourism Association (BONHATA) was present with the I Love Bonaire brand and together with representatives of Bonaire Restaurant Association (BRA), Divi Flamingo, NHTV Breda and Bellafonte, BONHATA highlighted and promoted the possibilities in the hospitality and tourism sector on Bonaire. With multiple flyers and the great help of the representatives, we showed to our youth that hospitality is much more than hotels only. Tour guiding, diving, administration, finance, marketing, maintenance, kiteboarding, sales, and carrental are all part of this incredibly broad sector and career opportunities. Our goal was to motivate the youth to follow their education in hospitality and/or tourism and work in this broad and diverse sector on Bonaire!
Other businesses and universities at the Study & Career Fair
Representatives of universities and schools both from the island and abroad were present to inform the students about the possibilities in their educational career:
– University of Aruba
– The College – and University of the Dutch Caribbean
– University of Curacao
– Flagler College from Florida USA
– Indian Hills Community College from Iowa USA
– ROA (Raad Onderwijs Arbeidsmarkt Caribisch Nederland)
– RCN (Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland)
– DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs) from the Netherlands
– NNAM Student Care
– Fundashon Forma
Besides, public authorities and businesses were present to give the students an idea of the possibilities in their future working career:
– OLB (Openbaar Lichaam Bonaire)
– Korps Politie Caribisch Nederland
– FKPD (Fundashon Kuido pa Personanan Desabilita)
– WEB (Water- & Energiebedrijf Bonaire)
– Tempo Bonaire
– Fundashon Mariadal
– RCN (Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland)
– NGO Platform Bonaire
– BONHATA
Program
From 9AM to 1PM, students were brought to the fair in school buses. They followed workshops and walked around on the fair to visit and ask information at the stands of participating universities and businesses on Bonaire. BONHATA organized workshops with interviews of NHTV Facility Management (HBO) student Anne Zijlmans, towel folding techniques and creations, and glass polish techniques. During the workshops, the students also had the chance to ask freely about what it’s like to study or work in hospitality. At the stand, students could ask for all the information about and possibilities in the hospitality and tourism sector. Food preparation demonstrations were given and funny food tastings were conducted among the students. The students were blind folded and had to guess what they were eating. Fruit cut in a different shape and salt on a watermelon give a very different experience to what you are tasting. This way you are fooling your taste buds and mind! We highlighted the amazing things about working in the tourism and hospitality sector. Besides, we showed the students that this sector is incredibly broad with a great variety of working possibilities.
Furthermore, from 5PM to 7PM, the students were invited to come back to the fair with their parents. The market was also open and free to enter for other visitors that were interested.
I Love Bonaire contest
Not only could the students obtain a great amount of information and attend interesting and fun workshops, BONHATA also organized a contest in which the students had to guess the amount of wine corks in a vase. BONHATA member Epic Tours sponsored the prize: a snorkel tour for two on a sailing boat with Epic Tours! BONHATA approached the winner of the contest and is looking forward to officially hand-over her prize.
Photos
Photos of the BONHATA workshops and stand will be uploaded to the website as soon as possible. Then you will be able to find them here.
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