Willemstad- The students of the Coast Guard training ‘Basis Opleiding Kustwachter’ (BOK) are helping the ones in need in the corona crisis. All the students were repatriated to their homeland when the governments announced their border shutdowns because of the threat of coronavirus.

Once at home, the youngsters volunteered to help their fellow citizens in need due to the crisis. A great number of volunteers are organizing good initiatives in Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten, to help the citizens and animals that have been affected. The Coast Guard students are helping with among others: food packaging, distribution of the packages and rescuing animals.

In Curaçao the students helped at Boka Ascension by spotting turtles that have become trapped in the washed-up sargassum in the bay. Sea Turtle Conservation Curaçao requested the help of volunteers to assists them with the rescue of the sea turtles. The CITRO volunteers also assisted in this action by looking for the turtles in the sargassum weed with their drones. In Aruba, the students gave a helping hand during the preparation of the food packages and washing the food trays at ‘Fundacion pa nos Comunidad’. In St. Maarten they supported the K1 Britannia by delivering food trays to the citizens in need. The Coast Guard students are excited and are doing their utmost to reach the people and animals that need help.