Design work for the Enrichment Center has been led by and recently completed by Lyongo Architecture, with the plans showing the multi-functional facility that will include a 130-seat theater serving both schools, community performances and activities outside school hours. A professional kitchen is also included to ease the preparations of school lunches and snacks. Large open corridors and community spaces are intended to encourage interaction and gatherings among students and residents alike. Underneath the buildings, dedicated parking will ensure practical access and enough parking for staff and visitors.
A Cultural, Educational and Community Facility
The project is part of a broader masterplan for the new school campus in St. John’s that also includes a gymnasium and a technical education center, all designed to elevate learning, recreation and community engagement on Saba. Construction for the gym and technical school facilities is advancing, with contracts signed and work scheduled to begin by the end of this month.
Regio Deal Funding and Integrated School Campus Development
The Enrichment Center itself is backed by Regio Deal funding, which provided a €5 million contribution in late 2024 for its construction and initial programming. This funding comes from the fifth tranche of the Regio Deal initiative aimed at boosting quality of life, social cohesion, economic opportunity and public infrastructure in Dutch regions, including the Caribbean Netherlands.
European ErasmusPlus Grant Furthers Operations Planning
In addition to Regio Deal support, Public Entity Saba was awarded a grant in 2025 from Erasmus+, the European Union’s program supporting education, training, youth and sport across Europe.
The Erasmus+ grant will fund the project titled “Establish the Saba Enrichment Center: Fostering Workforce Integration in Saba’s Upcoming Cultural Sector,” to be implemented in collaboration with the Saba Reach Foundation. This initiative aims to gather community input, professional expertise and strategic planning resources to lay the foundations for the Enrichment Center’s operations and programming, including exploring pathways for workplace integration for people who currently face barriers to the labor market.
Ultimately, the goal of this Erasmus+ project is to ensure that an operational structure and programming is ready by the time construction is completed, enabling the center to open with purpose and impact from day one.
