Fight for a Child Aruba

Fight for a Child Aruba is a non-profit foundation which has been founded by Antonnette Kock during the teacher strike on Aruba of March and April 2008 for the benefit of the children's right for education.

The strike had been going on for 5 weeks when Antonnette decided that whatever the issues were between the teachers union and the local government, the children did not have to suffer. She asked for help on behalf of all the schoolchildren of Aruba and went to various children's rights foundations, but did not get the support to protest against the strike.

After announcing on the local radiostations that she wanted to have the parents stand up for their children, she launched a website where people could comment on the matter. After many positive comments and phonecalls from parents and preocupied teachers, she decided to call out the teachers union for a meeting. They refused and again she begged them to coordinate the strike in such a manner that it would not affect the children. Again they refused and openly said in a press conference that they were not afraid of the parents nor any group.

This comment angried many parents who then joined the foundation and were asking for justice for their children. They wanted to go to court.

On March 25th 2008 they went to court to defend the children's education right as mentioned in the UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child. Although they lost the case it was unprecedented and made headlines in all the newspapers and radiostations in Aruba.

The foundation is very active on the island with regards to not only the right for education but all the children's rights. Antonnette has said

"I respect everyone's opinion and right as long as it does not affect the children's right in any way. People are quick to forget about the kids when it comes their own issues. We must remember that these children depend on us in everything. What kind of community are we if we push their rights aside to get what we want."

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