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About us
Our Motivation
Our journey began with a simple yet powerful realization: the importance of fostering a culture of wellness within our beloved island of Curaçao. As residents of this vibrant community, we recognized the need to come together and create a platform dedicated to promoting health, longevity, and environmental stewardship.
CREATING AWARENESS
Through the Curaçao Wellness Association, we aim to raise awareness about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle among our fellow locals. We believe that education and empowerment are key to inspiring sustainable change. By providing resources, influencing decision making, hosting events, and collaborating with local wellness professionals, we seek to empower individuals with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed choices for their health and well-being.
LONGEVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
As stewards of this beautiful island, we also recognize the interconnectedness between personal wellness and environmental sustainability. Our commitment extends beyond the individual to the collective health of our island home. By promoting practices that support both personal and planetary well-being, we strive to contribute to a future where our community thrives in harmony with nature.
Step into a world where well-being is not just a destination but a transformative journey— a journey that leads to a life filled with vitality, joy, and purpose.
Welcome to the Curaçao Wellness Association!
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Vision & Mission
Vision: "We will become the island of healing"
Mission: "We foster synergy among the wellness industry of Curaçao by influencing decision making, stimulating growth, while assuring an impeccable quality level."
Boardmembers - Motivation
Kristy Niessen
Entrepreneur in Eldercare
I am Kristy Niessen, an entrepreneur in eldercare, and I firmly believe in a holistic lifestyle centered around real, unprocessed food. In my daily work I see how older adults thrive with healthy nutrition and attention to both body and mind.
We live in a very stressful, unhealthy world, and I want to help bring about change by raising awareness on our island so that everyone can embrace a healthier way of life. With my background, I bring practical knowledge and passion to strengthen the Wellness Association, and I look forward to sharing innovative ideas focused on health, well-being, and sustainability.
“Together, we can demonstrate and realize the value of a holistic, healthy lifestyle for our entire community.”
Nancy N. Rodrigues Pereira
Neuro-emotional Psychologist & Happiness Coach
My motivation to join the Curaçao Wellness Association stems from a deep desire to add value to others. The essence of "well-being" resonates profoundly with me—it is about "being" well, not merely "well-having" or "well-doing."
As a Neuro-emotional Psychologist, emotional balance coach, and spa director, I’ve created transformative programs like Character Building for Personal Empowerment and The Journey to Self-Coaching to empower individuals and organizations. My vision evolved into retreat journeys and corporate wellness programs, merging wellness, happiness, and tourism to create impactful experiences.
Happiness and wellness are birthrights, and my mission is to help people discover a sanctuary of stillness and happiness within themselves. Through my company, Wintude, I fulfill my purpose: "changing the world one smile at a time."
Joining CWA offers the chance to extend this mission, positioning Curaçao as a beacon of wellness, happiness and healing, professionalizing the wellness industry, and improving quality of life for all.
Maria-Helena Seferina Rojas
Business Development advisor & Corporate Affairs Strategist with a passion for sustainable tourism and wellness
Committed to bringing the Curaçao “Island of Healing” lifestyle to life!
I am a dedicated board member of the Curaçao Wellness Association. My passion lies in uplifting our vibrant community and nurturing the growth of Curaçao’s wellness sector. I believe in the incredible potential of our island as a sanctuary for healing, renewal, and holistic well-being.
Together, we can bring the “Curaçao: Island of Healing” mentality and lifestyle (back) to life, celebrating the rich heritage, natural beauty, and diverse talents of our people. Wellness is more than a personal journey; it’s a collective effort. By fostering collaboration and innovation in the wellness sector, we aim to create a thriving ecosystem that supports physical, mental, and emotional health for locals and visitors.
My role on the board is driven by a commitment to champion initiatives, partnerships, and programs that amplify Curaçao’s reputation as a global destination for healing and well-being. Together, we can build a healthier, more connected future that reflects the true essence of Curaçao
Eileen Isebia
Healthcare Professional & Health Coach
"My island is a healing island, and I am proud and blessed to be a Yu di Kòrsou!”
As a healthcare professional and health coach, I believe our beautiful island has so much to offer in the realm of well-being. Wellness tourism presents a tremendous opportunity to foster growth and create meaningful opportunities for our local community.
Recognizing this potential, wellness tourism has been designated as a priority sector within the National Export Strategy.
My motivation is to contribute to the development and expansion of this sector by bringing stakeholders together and positioning Curaçao as the preferred destination for well-being.
Haydee Hermans
Transformational Coach & Emotional Mastery Expert
Haydee Hermans MBA, is a transformational coach, trainer, and speaker, who has coached hundreds of people, led many workshops, and organized lectures for over 6 years. She is the CEO of Soul Garden Curacao, the co-founder of Sister Power Foundation, and co-founder of Cur(e)motions.
Over the years she obtained certification in coaching programs and gained knowledge and experience from attending numerous seminars, workshops, and trainings.
Furthermore Haydee is a tapping (EFT) expert and has led many people to feel more at peace and with joy. Her Mission is to create awareness and to share tools on increasing emotional vocabulary and mastery of emotions. Her Vision is to have her home island where she resides and the Caribbean emotionally elevated and thriving in life.
I feel compelled to contribute with my expertise. As a board member I contribute not only with my expertise as a Coach, Trainer and Speaker in the field of emotional mastery, but also with the large network of people that crossed path with.
My motivation is to help others at the core of their problems so the changes can be sustainable in their lifetime and for the next generations. Having visited many major wellness events in the USA and visited beautiful retreats I am convinced that our island can also one day either host of these major events or organize one of these international major events.
As a board member I can surely add my effort, expertise and abilities to make this happen.
Karin Visser
Human Resource & Wellness Development Professional
As a business owner, she understands firsthand the needs and challenges of entrepreneurs. Having observed the advanced organization of wellness professionals in the Netherlands, she has a clear view of both the opportunities and pitfalls of structuring such networks. With over a decade of experience as a Human Resource Professional, Karin has developed strong skills in communication, leadership, and organizational development. She has 12 years experience as a wellness professional specializing in energy medicine and fit20 personal training. Having lived in Curaçao for over 11 years, she combines her professional expertise with a deep connection to the beautiful community of Curacao.
For 11 years she has been on this beautiful island in the Caribbean, and she has a genuine wish to make its people stronger in health and well-being, so that it can thrive! With fit20 Karin adds strength and vitality to the lives of people so they can feel they can conquer anything and feel alive.
“I want to put my time and energy into making this organization a success and thereby contribute to my own mission and that of its members. This way my mission will have a multiplied effect! A strong and healthy Curaçao will be inevitable”.
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Kuawanna Thompson
Integrative Wellness Leader & Yoga Practitioner
Kuawanna is a professional with extensive experience in leadership, operations management, and holistic wellness. As an international yoga teacher and Ayurveda practitioner-in-training, she integrates expertise in breathwork, nervous system regulation, and health promotion with a strong foundation in nursing, sports medicine, and corporate management.
As a founder of Lotus Roots Rest & Restore Center, she has successfully developed and led retreats, workshops, and community-based wellness initiatives that strengthen engagement and accessibility. With over a decade of experience fostering collaboration, managing teams, and creating sustainable programs, she brings a balanced perspective that bridges traditional wellness practices with strategic organizational development.
Committed to advancing Curaçao’s wellness sector, Kuawanna aims to contribute to the Curaçao Wellness Association by supporting governance, advocacy, and innovative initiatives that enhance community well-being and position the island as a leader in holistic health.
“I see the unique opportunity Curaçao has, to position itself as a hub for integrative wellness, blending traditional practices with innovative approaches that serve both residents and visitors. As founder of Lotus Roots Rest & Restore Center I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of wellness when made accessible and community-driven.
I aim to foster collaboration among wellness professionals, advocate for standards that elevate the sector, and help create initiatives that enhance Curaçao’s visibility in regional and global wellness markets”.