The delegation consisted of Monica Smith, Ereina Gorden, Cheryl Arrundell, and Geraldine Isabella, joined by Zaira Marina Barriento Martinez, the owner of Curaçao’s first recovery centre. Together, they co-train the Peer-Support Expertise course.
This collaboration is currently training its second cohort of twelve Caribbean professionals from the care, welfare, police, and government sectors. The aim is to equip them to use their lived experience to challenge the stigma surrounding trauma, addiction, psychiatric conditions, and other forms of mental distress—stigma that remains deeply rooted across the region.
During the exchange, the group followed an intensive programme, meeting with several Dutch organisations including Enik Recovery College, Focus, Vriendendiensten, Bruis (Saskia Schurman), the GGNet recovery centre, Ixta Noa, Teamed (the Dapperhuis), and the Volunteer’s Academy Foundation (Stichting Vrijwilligersacademie). They also visited the transcultural psychiatry department at Dimence’s refugee facility.
The delegation also engaged in discussions with InBegrepen (a collective for experiential knowledge), Club SALT, and the Association of Peer-Support Experts (Vereniging van Ervaringsdeskundigen). Master’s students joined parts of the programme, adding valuable cross-cultural perspectives.
“Monica, Ereina, Cheryl, and Geraldine are true pioneers,” said a representative of the Professorship. “Their contribution is essential to building recovery-oriented services in the region. We value this collaboration greatly and look forward to seeing their work continue to grow.”
The partnership will continue in February 2026, when the Professorship returns to the Caribbean to further tailor the curriculum to local needs.
