About Cas di Papiamento
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”
Cas di Papiamento was born from this truth. In 2003, Papiamento was officially recognized as one of Aruba’s national languages. This was historic: a language once born in hardship and shared in secrecy became a symbol of identity and pride. Today it is used in daily life across every social level, including government and education.
For generations, Papiamento lived mainly as an oral language. Many native speakers never had the chance to formally learn to read or write their mother tongue. At the same time, Aruba’s multicultural reality—with people from many nationalities—created a growing need for professional instruction not only in Papiamento, but also in Dutch, English, and Spanish.
From this need, Cas di Papiamento came to life: a dedicated institute where locals and newcomers alike learn Papiamento with purpose and respect, stepping into the culture, community, and heart of Aruba through language.
Mission
To provide high-quality language instruction and materials for students learning Papiamento, Dutch, English, or Spanish for academic, professional, or personal goals, while promoting intercultural connection and a sense of belonging.
Vision
To stand as Aruba’s leading language institute by setting high standards in curriculum design, teaching practice, professional development, and cross-cultural understanding—so language learning becomes a bridge to community.
Our Founder — Swinda A. Maduro-Schwengle
Born on 31 August 1956, Swinda A. Maduro-Schwengle’s story with education began early. At just nine years old she was already teaching neighborhood children and creating handwritten books, declaring she would publish one someday. This childhood passion became the foundation for a lifelong dedication to teaching, learning, and culture.
She finished high school at seventeen and became a teacher at twenty. At eighteen, her mother, Maria Henriquez (1922–1980), became sick, and Swinda became her primary caregiver until her passing five years later. Those years of responsibility and love shaped the resilience, compassion, and sense of purpose that guide her work to this day.
Swinda was among those who fought to introduce Papiamento into Aruba’s education system. Together with colleagues from Aruba and Curaçao, she helped develop the first official methods of Papiamento, advancing the language from an oral tradition into structured educational practice.
She later pursued advanced studies and a bachelor in Papiamento, and across her career she taught at nearly every level of Aruba’s education system: elementary schools, special education, MAVO, HAVO, EPB, IPA, the University of Aruba, and EPI. Her work also includes major translation projects, among them contributing to the translation of the Bible into Papiamento—an important cultural milestone for the island.
In 2012, guided by a clear vision to preserve and share Aruba’s native language, she founded Cas di Papiamento. Her goal was not only to teach people to speak Papiamento, but to let them feel the spirit and traditions of her people—opening doors to community through the power of language.
Dedicated to Francisco “Chico” Schwengle (1922–2000) --
A man of the sea, a rescuer, a father.
Your daughter, our Founder, carries your strength with pride,
always hoping you are proud of her too.