Hi, I’m Cindy Eman, a Curaçao-born environmental consultant, and founder of Yu di Tera and The Growing Network Foundation. I’m passionate about building a greener, more resilient island by helping local initiatives grow, professionalize, and make a lasting impact.
I’ve always been someone who never sits still — curious, driven, and motivated by creating real change. Growing up in Curaçao shaped the core of who I am: a blend of American practicality, Dutch level-headedness, and Latin warmth. After years of working and studying abroad, I returned to the island in 2019 with one goal: to use everything I’ve learned to support the land and community that raised me.
Today, I work at the intersection of nature, community, and project development. Through Yu di Tera, I support green and social projects from concept to execution. I’ve contributed to initiatives such as Hòfinan di Ser’i Otrobanda, Farm to Crafts, City Nature Challenge Curaçao, green classrooms for schools, and multiple vegetation and biodiversity studies. I also provide GIS-based analysis, environmental consultancy, and project management across a diverse range of conservation and community efforts.
In 2025, I founded The Growing Network Foundation to give volunteer-driven environmental projects a home — a platform through which we can share knowledge, build partnerships, and secure funding to support projects that help Curaçao thrive.
Whether I’m researching native vegetation, managing large-scale collaborative projects, or supporting grassroots initiatives, my mission remains the same:
to help Curaçao grow greener, stronger, and more connected.
The Meaning Behind “Yu di Tera”
In Papiamentu, Yu di Tera literally means “child of the earth.” It’s a phrase used to describe someone who is born in Curaçao — someone shaped by its land, its culture, and its people. For me, the name carries both a personal and a professional truth.
I am a Yu di Tera: raised by Curaçao’s landscapes, inspired by its diversity, and deeply connected to the island’s stories. My work is an extension of that identity. Whether I’m researching native vegetation, building environmental projects, supporting community initiatives, or developing spaces where nature and people can thrive together, everything begins with the same foundation: a profound respect for the land that raised me.
The name also reflects the core philosophy of my work:
- We grow from the ground up. Strong projects need strong roots — in community, in culture, and in ecological understanding.
- We care for the land as it cares for us. Environmental work in Curaçao is not just technical; it’s cultural, social, and emotional.
- We honor the wisdom of the island. By integrating local knowledge with modern expertise, we build projects that feel authentic and belong here.
Yu di Tera is not just a name — it’s a commitment.
A commitment to Curaçao, to its environment, and to the people who call this island home. It reflects my belief that meaningful change happens when we reconnect with our roots and help others do the same.
If you’d like to collaborate or learn more about my work, I’d love to hear from you.
yuditera.com 