Talking about data to young people in the Caribbean Netherlands

Young people on the Bonaire boulevard after school
© CBS
Statistics Netherlands (CBS) is committed to raising awareness about the importance of data among young people in the Caribbean Netherlands. This new initiative follows a campaign aimed at promoting data literacy in 2025. That campaign led to hundreds of new followers on Facebook and thousands of views, and CBS was invited to give workshops on data. Representatives from the CBS office on Bonaire recently met with young people to explore how data reflects their everyday lives. These interactive sessions took place at the library in Bonaire.

Future expectations

Esther Meijer-Sedney, statistical analyst at Statistics Netherlands, emphasised the significance of these public engagement efforts: ‘Engaging with young people gives us the opportunity to learn what matters most to them, while also showing them that statistics play a crucial role in understanding their well-being. We want to hear their perspective and explain how they can use statistics to make informed decisions. These insights can then be shared with stakeholders, who can take action. We started these talks on Bonaire, but we will also be holding them on St Eustatius and Saba.’

Meijer also highlighted a number of key areas for young people: future prospects, eating healthily, education, financial stability and overall well-being. ’It’s important for young people to know that data is available on these subjects and this was a fantastic opportunity for us to talk about them. More workshops are planned throughout the year so that we can continue this valuable dialogue.’

The importance of relevant data

During the sessions at the Bonaire library, participants worked in small groups on the question: ‘What happens when you become a data detective?’, which caught their imagination. The sessions focused on the importance of relevant data, how to differentiate between facts and opinions, and how to form an opinion based on facts. The participants learned that data is generated from research and they had the opportunity to practise designing their own mini-research projects, including formulating research questions, identifying target groups, and presenting their ideas.

Approximately 75 young people attended the workshops, and they also took part in mini-quizzes. The quizzes prompted them to reflect on their own experiences. Their answers were then compared with those of other residents of the island, which led to some lively discussions between the younger and older members of the community.

Data-driven youth

Later this year, Statistics Netherlands plans to host an event at the Terramar Museum under the theme of ‘Data-driven Youth’. This initiative will allow young people to explore data in a creative way. As part of a ‘data-driven art competition’, participants will create works of art based on specific themes, using data provided by Statistics Netherlands. The artwork will be displayed at the Terramar Museum, offering a unique blend of art and data literacy. The Bonaire office will also organise workshops on data awareness for students in their first and second years of secondary education (HAVO and VWO).

Related items