My name is Jihan Rigaud-Elhage. I hold a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree in Clinical Psychology, earned in the United States at Nova Southeastern University. During my training, I focused primarily on child and adolescent development and the broad spectrum of psychological needs in this population - from neuropsychology to complex psychiatric disorders. I also received postdoctoral training in suicide and crisis prevention and intervention, as well as in school psychology.
In 2010, I returned to my beautiful home island of Curaçao and had the privilege of being part of the founding team of Yudaboyu. Although I later shifted paths to serve as a school psychologist at the International School of Curaçao, I remained closely connected to Yudaboyu in various roles. In July 2016, I officially returned full-time, and since 2022, I have taken on the role of manager of Yudaboyu.
I am deeply committed to working alongside the Yudaboyu team to ensure that children and adolescents in Curaçao have access to the specialized psychiatric care they need to thrive. It remains an honor to contribute to the development and delivery of these essential services for our youth and their families.

Andreïna Martina is a psychologist at Yudaboyu, born and raised in Curaçao. After completing her studies in the Netherlands, she made the decision to return home. Mental health remains a sensitive and often stigmatized topic on the island, and she felt a strong calling to be part of the change to help break the silence and create more open, supportive conversations around mental well-being. After returning home Andreïna began her career at the Rehabilitation Center Curaçao (RCC) where she worked with both children and adults living with acquired brain injuries.

During that time, she had the privilege of speaking at the Naskho Conference, where she presented on the neurocognitive and physical challenges of driving after a brain injury. That experience gave her a deeper insight into how brain injuries affect daily life and can increase mental health challenges in both the client and their surroundings. Over time, Andreïna realized that her passion lies in supporting children and their families. That realization led her to her current role at Yudaboyu, where she focuses on helping children and the youth feel safe, understood, and empowered, and where families are given the tools and support they need to thrive. It is an honor to be able to continue breaking the stigma by presenting here today.

After completing her medical training in Groningen, Karin Hermans first worked as a school doctor and then as a resident physician at Klinka Capriles. She completed her training as a psychiatrist and subsequently as a child and adolescent psychiatrist within the Hague-Leiden consortium. During this period, she developed a keen interest in forensic psychiatry and also trained as a forensic psychiatrist and rapporteur.

In 2006, she was brought back to the island by colleagues from the Psychiatrists Partnership Antilles. There, she worked for three years as an independent child and adolescent psychiatrist until Yudaboyu opened its doors in 2010. During her time with the Partnership, she enjoyed flying to the other islands as a consulting child psychiatrist to provide care to the children and adolescents there. Currently, she only travels to St. Maarten.

My name is Leadrick Mercelina, and I am 52 years old. I am a Social Pedagogical Worker, and since 1992 I have been working with and supporting children, adolescents, and their caregivers. In my early years, I attended technical schools, where I focused on welding, fine metalwork, electrical systems, and technical drawing (electrical). Later, I pursued studies in Social Pedagogy. These areas of expertise eventually came together in the development of a guide I created: “Social-Pedagogical Guidance in Manual Trades.” To this day, I continue to apply this approach and remain committed to my personal and professional development, particularly within the framework of social-pedagogical strategies that I aim to keep implementing in my work with others.

With a great passion for empowering people, Irodice studied psychology in the Netherlands, and she tries to do this every day as a professional as well as an individual.
For more than 5 years she has worked in various projects in the Netherlands with different target groups within the Antillean community with the aim of motivating them to take responsibility for their actions, but also to take their life and future into their own hands.
In these as well as other positions, she has worked as a personal counselor, project coordinator and developer of practical tools within healthcare, developer of various personal development courses & trainer.

Here on Curaçao, she has been working in the healthcare sector for more than 15 years, where she gained expertise in the field of psychodiagnostics for children and young people. She also gives advice to parents, school and other educators about the interaction and guidance of children and young people in order to help them achieve the maximum within their potential with regard to cognitive, but also other capacities. This by offering a healthy environment that promotes development with guidance that is tailored to the unique needs of each individual.
Irodice also has experience with counseling regarding addiction, as a teacher and study advisor at HBO level, and also various positions at management level both within and outside the healthcare sector.
Irodice is also a certified facilitator of the democratic dialogues according to the United Nations method and is trained in couple therapy according to the methodology of "The Gottman Institute".

Irodice has been working through her own company Choice Change & Chance B.V. (CC&C B.V.) since 2013 where she also tries to create awareness within the Curaçaoan society about the importance of personal, professional and social development. This includes trainings, personal and group counseling, couple and family therapy, mediation and psychodiagnostics & more.

In conclusion, Irodice works with love for people and promotes the development of every member of our society.

Daniëlla Pengel is a dedicated Social Worker with a passion for addiction care. After completing her studies in the Netherlands in 2008, she worked at a reintegration center for former inmates until deciding to return to Curaçao in 2010. Daniëlla has 15 years of experience in the field of addiction care, during which she has provided treatment to both adolescents and adults struggling with addiction. She has a strong affinity with young people and is the go-to person when it comes to youth, drug use, and gambling disorders.

Over the years, she has completed various trainings, courses, and continuing education programs, both in Curaçao and abroad, particularly in the field of addiction care. Additionally, she is trained as a trainer and delivers engaging and dynamic trainings to various institutions and target groups. Daniëlla has facilitated workshops across different islands in the Caribbean, including Aruba and Sint Maarten.

In 2022, she transitioned to the prevention department, where she took on coordination of all aspects of primary and secondary prevention. As a lifelong learner, she continuously seeks professional growth, which led her to assume the role of manager in 2025—a role that has been both enriching and challenging so far.

When taking a break from her role as manager, she enjoys watching movies, practicing calligraphy, and being part of a group that performs and sings tambu.
Fun fact: Daniëlla loves mint gum—she simply can’t go without it!

Evita Brand is a Dutch Social Worker and Play Therapist. She was born in a small village in Overijssel, the Netherlands. As a child, she witnessed the arrival of people from different cultural backgrounds in her community. This early experience made her aware of the challenges some children face. Especially those who have lived through adversity and struggle to express themselves verbally. This experience laid the foundation for her career in Social Work and later in Play Therapy.

At the heart of her work lies a deep commitment to truly seeing and hearing the child. Evita completed a four-year Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and worked concurrently at the Kindertelefoon, where she supported children facing various challenges. This role formed the basis of her therapeutic communication skills. In 2015, after completing her degree, she moved to Curaçao for three years to work at the Therapy and Expertise Centre (TEC) of the Foundation for the Support of Children with Disabilities (SOKH). It was here that she developed her love for the island and the children of Curacao.

After returning to the Netherlands, Evita pursued a postgraduate qualification in Play Therapy. She worked at a parent-child residential support center (OKT), providing care and guidance to parents with mild intellectual disabilities in their parenting. Evita then began working as a young professional play therapist within a specialized youth care organization. In 2023, Evita returned to Curaçao, where she now works as a Play Therapist at GGZ Curaçao Yudaboyu. She has continued to expand her expertise and is an active member of the Caribbean Association of Arts-Play and Psychomotor Therapists (CAAPPT).

I am a committed and proactive social worker with over five years of experience supporting young people, families, and addiction groups. My strength lies in building trust, offering a listening ear, and finding practical solutions that connect with clients' lives.
After completing my Social Work (SW) degree at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, I worked at both the Salvation Army (LDH Huis en Haard 1) and GGZ Delfland. My expertise lies in preventive care and supporting young people and the elderly with addiction problems.

What drives me is the belief that everyone has the right to opportunities, safety, and perspective. In my work, I combine empathy with purpose – always with an eye for the person behind the story.

Besides my work, I regularly participate in training courses on addiction, motivation, and systems-based work. In my free time, I enjoy reading, watching TV, and spending time with my family and friends.

Marjon Halmeyer-Roos was born in the Netherlands but grew up in Brazil, which laid the foundation for her career as a Music Therapist. Her youth was marked by the rich Brazilian music, that directed her path toward a career in Music Therapy. She graduated from the HAN University of Applied Sciences in Music Therapy and began at the Sophia Children's Hospital psychiatric department in Rotterdam, where she specialized in the methodical application of music as a therapeutic tool for children with different disorders.
She later joined the Expertise Center of Stichting De Driestroom in Nijmegen and worked in two nursing homes with elderly with Dementia. Since 2005 in Curaçao, she worked for different healthcare institutions among others Klinika Capriles. She learned about the beautiful and complex Curaçao Rhythms such as Tumba from her patients in therapy sessions.

In 2011 Marjon founded Music Therapy Center Curaçao. The center provides Music Therapy treatments among others for GGZ Curaçao Yudaboyu. Marjon further specialized in Neurological Music Therapy at the Red Iberoamericana de Musicoterapia y Neurociencias in Argentina. In addition to providing treatments through Music Therapy, she also is trainer in Effective communication. Marjon holds the position of chairperson at the Caribbean Association of Arts-Play and Psychomotor Therapists (CAAPPT). She is co-founder and project manager at United Through Music Curaçao Foundation, an organization that promotes music in healthcare with the aim to connect people.