“Since I was little, I wanted to become a police officer because I thought it was interesting, and I see it as a way to help people,” said 18-year-old student Ysamar Sinaí Smith-Medina, after participating in the Uncut Diamonds social project.
Uncut Diamonds, created by social worker Shurman Milliard, is an inspiring initiative that highlights young people in the community who are achieving great things — whether by reaching personal goals, excelling academically, or showcasing their talents. Milliard says this project is crucial for the island, especially this year, as it focuses on celebrating Aruba’s top graduates.
“Often, we only hear about young people when something negative happens — and when there’s trouble, videos go viral, and everyone knows which family they belong to,” Milliard explained.
Visits to local businesses
Milliard noted that positive achievements rarely get the same attention. “For example, last year’s top five graduates in Aruba — no one knew anything about them,” he said.
By shining a positive spotlight on these young people and making them role models, others can feel inspired to follow their lead, rather than chasing after those who are simply more popular or well-known.
This year, five top graduates were invited to visit businesses and organizations related to their future career interests.
Fighting the brain drain
“Today, we visited KPA for those who want to become police officers,” Milliard continued. “Beyond that, we have strong partners like Giannis, with branches led by managers who can inspire our youth as well. We also have MAVO and HAVO students interested in areas like human resources.”
These visits are ideal for having conversations with young people before they leave to study abroad, encouraging them to return to Aruba afterward. In this way, the project aims to help address the island’s ongoing brain drain problem.
Learning more about policing
Liliana Rasmijn, spokesperson for the Police Corps, praised the program and hopes it will continue. She stressed that it is a valuable opportunity for young people to explore the police profession up close.
“Many times you only hear about policing or see it on social media, but there’s nothing better than sitting in the office and seeing firsthand what really happens,” Rasmijn said. “I think this is a wonderful initiative that helps guide students, so they can see if this is truly the career they want.”
