🇸🇽 ESC Volunteering in Sint Maarten 📖 Creating a Book of Stories with Prison Inmates through Creative Writing ✍️

This is a rare and profound ESC volunteering opportunity for one exceptional person. On the island of Sint Maarten, you will work side by side with inmates at Point Blanche prison and the MLC juvenile centre to co-create "Beneath the Cover", a book in which the men tell their stories, their past lives, their future visions, or both, through creative writing, illustration, and photography. It is a privilege that is likely to stay with you for the rest of your life.

About the Project

The organisers are looking for one exceptional volunteer to complete a team of 6 for a life-changing experience. The project takes place at Point Blanche, the prison of Sint Maarten (Dutch side), and the MLC juvenile centre, where an equal number of detainees and international volunteers work together on the creation, illustration, and photography of a book, "Beneath the Cover". Inmates from the wider prison population will have the chance to tell their story, whether their past life, their future vision, or both.

You will work alongside a group of men who are open to changing the trajectory of their lives. The organisers expect you to give a lot, but to gain even more. Working on this project with these men is a genuine privilege, which is why they are searching for a truly special volunteer with skills in creative writing, poetry, or spoken word, and in leading groups in this field.

The project is delivered in partnership with the Sint Maarten Development Fund and co-financed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

What You Will Do

📖 Co-create a publication-ready book with detainees, capturing their stories

✍️ Lead creative writing, poetry, and spoken-word sessions

🎨 Support illustration and photography for the book

👥 Bring groups together for discussion, such as coordinating a book club or a movie discussion club

🧑‍🏫 Train the core team so they can continue this work after you leave

Training During the Activity

🕊️ Training around the Nelson Mandela Rules

🛬 On-arrival training when you reach Sint Maarten

🤝 Ongoing support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Point Blanche Prison, the MLC centre, and the host organisation

📚 Training throughout the activity, including preparing you to train other volunteers to support work with the wider prison population

Accommodation, Food and Transport

🛏️ You will stay in shared accommodation; let the organisers know at application stage if you do not wish to share a room with a volunteer of a different sex

🚗 You will be collected each day and driven to work

🍽️ Meals are provided at the prison with the detainees, plus money for weekend and other meals

Participant Profile

The organisers are looking for an exceptional, one-of-a-kind volunteer who has:

📕 The skills to create a book ready for publishing

💡 The ability to engage others and bring out their creativity

🧑‍🏫 The ability to teach the core team how to continue this work after leaving

🗣️ The ability to bring groups together for discussion

💪 Confidence and mental toughness

🎂 Is over 23 years old

🇬🇧 Speaks English (French and Spanish are also beneficial)

Please do not apply if you do not have these skills, or if you would require a visa.

The Details

📍 Location: Sint Maarten (Dutch side), delivered by an organisation based in Savaneta, Aruba

📆 Activity dates: 1 August to 30 September 2026

🧩 Activity type: Volunteering teams

🎯 Topics: social challenges, citizenship and democratic participation, creativity and culture

🌍 Eligibility: open to participants from over 60 countries, including Türkiye; applicants must not require a visa

🏷️ Project code: 2025-1-NL02-ESC51-VTJ-000347401

How to Apply

You must apply via the organisation's own application process on their webpage and send a motivation letter. Applications sent via the youth portal (PASS) will not be read. Incomplete applications, or those that do not meet the criteria, will not be considered. If you do not hear back within one week after the deadline, you may assume that your application was unsuccessful on this occasion.