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'Under the Hood' volunteers bring newsletters, a book club and photography to Point Blanche and Miss Lalie Center

The first phase of 'Under the Hood', a European Solidarity Corps volunteering project, has ended at Point Blanche Prison and the Miss Lalie Center, and a second phase began on 9 October 2026.

By SXM Daily ·

Residents of Point Blanche Prison and the Miss Lalie Center have spent two months making newsletters, reading together and learning photography with international volunteers, as the first phase of the "Under the Hood" project came to an end, the Government of Sint Maarten said on 13 October 2026.

The project is part of the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteering programme. Resident volunteers and international volunteers worked side by side on creative activities in both facilities.

What the project produced

  • Two newsletters, published every two weeks: "Jungle News" at the prison and "The Rascals News" at Miss Lalie Center, with puzzles, word games and other content by residents.
  • "Between the Bars", a prison book club set up with the Sint Maarten Library, which read Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist". Volunteers and residents also renovated space for a new prison satellite library and sorted books donated through the Sint Maarten Development Fund (SMDF).
  • "The Spot", a film club with group discussions and reviews.
  • Photography workshops, plus painting, blackout poetry, podcasting and cooking.

Residents also helped write applications for future projects, so that programmes can continue in Sint Maarten's detention facilities.

Phase two

A second phase began on 9 October 2026 with a new group of international volunteers, who will build on the first phase's work.

The project falls under the Detention Sector Reform Program and is funded by the European Solidarity Corps, Sint Maarten's Ministry of Justice and the Government of the Netherlands, in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Sources

  • https://www.sintmaartengov.org/news/Pages/press-release.aspx?slug=creaive-initiatives-take-root-at-point-blanche-prison-and-miss-lalie-center-through-under-the-hood-project

Source: https://www.sintmaartengov.org/news/Pages/press-release.aspx?slug=creaive-initiatives-take-root-at-point-blanche-prison-and-miss-lalie-center-through-under-the-hood-project

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