On Tuesday, January 23, the first celebration of Betico Day for schoolchildren took place at the National Library. These types of activities are under the responsibility of Glenda Savala, the coordinator of children’s activities at the National Library.
The first celebration of the year was within the framework of Betico Day, which is officially celebrated on January 25. Since the library would be closed on that date, it was decided to hold the celebration in advance. Several schools attended, most of them being afternoon and private schools, the ones with children in the afternoon to evening hours. It is estimated that around 60 children participated in this successful event.
The Tuesday afternoon event featured Joe Koolman as a guest, someone who had a close connection with Betico. He shared the story of Betico Croes, his life, and various details from Betico’s childhood to his entry into politics. He also talked about Betico’s hobbies as a child. “He knew a lot about Betico’s life until the time he passed away.”
Another guest was Stefanie Quandt, the Children’s Queen of Dande, who asked many questions and presented awards.
Glenda Savala was surprised to find that even preschool children already knew a lot about Betico Croes. “For me, it’s something emotional. When I was a child, I also spent a lot of time with Betico. And seeing how the children prepared for the activity, I have to give a big activity to the teachers of the afternoon schools who prepared for this event.”
Finally, Glenda Savala emphasized that these activities bring culture closer to children, in this case. It is very important for young people to be familiar with the culture of Aruba.
On Wednesday, there will be another event at the National Library in San Nicolas.
