GreenKidz Interview Profile for Caribbean Network
October 2024

In a series of interviews, Caribbean Network shines a spotlight on people in Curaçao who are fighting for a special cause. They strive to achieve something and refuse to be deterred by anything or anyone. What drives these individuals? Part 10: Maya Mathias of GreenKidz and her passionate commitment to making learning enjoyable.

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The Pitfall of an Overactive Creative Mind and an Enormous Dose of Enthusiasm

By Eva Breukin

Maya Mathias (56) radiates energy. Her mind is a pressure cooker full of ideas, constantly bubbling over. And then things happen: a “trash to treasure” lesson with artist Yubi Kirindongo, a tree project with Hòfi Mango, or lessons on mosquito prevention. It goes well for a long time—very long, even.

Maya believes in abundance. She wants to do a lot, and then do it in the best and most beautiful way possible. That’s her Indian heritage—her concerned father who would ask, “Do you need tutoring?” if she came home with a 9 instead of a 10. Maya has always aimed for perfection.

“I’m a migrant child. My parents came from India. To have any chance of success in a country where you’re a guest, you had to be ten times better than everyone else.”

At the age of four, Maya and her parents moved from London to the Netherlands. In Drenthe, her father worked as an anesthesiologist and her mother as a psychiatrist. Unlike the rigid class system of 1970s England, the Netherlands offered equal opportunities.

Always Different

Yet, as a girl with Indian parents, she always felt different in Drenthe. Blonde, white Dutch children would insult her, calling her derogatory names. In high school, she was the only person of color among 1,400 students. She felt trapped in the gray, stifling environment of Emmen. Books became her escape, opening doors to the wider world.

Her world expanded further when she studied economics at the Free University in Amsterdam. There, she was still the only brown girl, but this time her fellow students found her unique and interesting. In the anonymity of the big city, she thrived.

That Indian girl blossomed, dedicating more time to art, culture, and her student association than to her studies. With her Dutch boyfriend, she traveled the world—a bold move for her family.

“My parents had an arranged marriage with mutual consent, and I almost did too. I was a lonely teenager in Drenthe and thought marrying a cousin might be better. But my mother intervened, saying, ‘Study first, then marry.’ I’m grateful for that.”

A Born Trainer

Economics didn’t suit her, but she persevered, as migrant children always do. Maya discovered her passion: giving others opportunities. During internships in West Africa and at the UN, she engaged in development work that aligned with her core values.

“I believe I must contribute to society. That makes my existence meaningful.”

At just 18, Maya was already training chemistry and physics students in communication skills. Watching others grow and flourish brought her joy.

Her creativity and leadership matured over time, and she developed her own workshops, programs, and curricula, pouring her energy into seeing others succeed.

Creative Drive

Maya’s creative drive truly flourished when she moved to Curaçao in 2005 with her husband Martin and their infant son. The island’s beauty and multicultural society felt like home. Inspired by the island’s pollution, she co-created GreenKidz in 2015, combining education with sustainability.

GreenKidz became her passion project. With a small, dedicated team of volunteers, she reached thousands of children with colorful, interactive lessons, inspiring pride in their schools, themselves, and their island.

“We faced skepticism early on, but ten years later, schools still value our materials. That’s heartwarming.”

Burnout and Recovery

In 2023, Maya faced burnout. Overwhelmed, exhausted, and unable to think creatively, she learned to prioritize and pace herself.

Now, she chooses her projects wisely, embracing a slower, more sustainable pace.

“I still want to create beautiful things for our youth, but in a calmer way—poko poko. If perfection isn’t possible, a seven is good enough.”