Mega D Youth Foundation receives €25,000 Oranje Fonds award

Mega D Youth Foundation received one of three 2026 Appeltjes van Oranje Awards on Thursday 8 October, the Government of Statia said. The foundation was selected from 10 nominated organisations across the Kingdom of the Netherlands and was one of two nominees from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.

The 24th award ceremony was held at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague in the presence of King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and Princess Beatrix, according to the Government of Statia. The foundation will receive €25,000 and a bronze statuette designed by Princess Beatrix.

The Oranje Fonds presents the awards each year to organisations working on social initiatives across the Kingdom. This year’s theme was “Breaking the Cycle of Poverty Together.”

Mega D Youth Foundation supports children and young people on Statia through after-school programmes, educational support, meals and activities focused on practical life skills. Its Food with Heart Project provides meals, educational support and activities including agriculture and entrepreneurship.

Dion Humphreys, the foundation’s founder and director, said the award belonged to Statia and its children. Island Commissioner of Education Reuben Merkman said the recognition reflected the foundation’s work with children and young people.