By Foresee Foundation
Across Sint Maarten, a meaningful cultural initiative is underway to honour and preserve the lived experiences of the island’s seniors. A collaboration between Hearts United Holistic Care Foundation and Les Fruits de Mer, “Stories from the Heart through the Eyes of St. Maarten’s Seniors” aims to document the memories, wisdom, and personal histories of elder community members through a professionally produced documentary and companion book.
This project ensures that senior voices, carrying stories of resilience, community, hardship, and tradition, are recorded for future generations. Through intimate on-camera interviews, elders reflect on their lives, offering a vivid look at St. Maarten’s past while deepening understanding of its present.
Hearts United Holistic Care Foundation – a nonprofit committed to supporting the elderly, individuals, and families – provides feeding programs, counselling, mentoring, rehabilitation, and care for shut-ins or those most in need. The storytelling initiative naturally extends this mission by offering seniors a space for healing, recognition, and emotional connection as they share their experiences.
Les Fruits de Mer, based in Grand Case, has years of experience in cultural preservation, education, and book production. They are known for their books about St. Martin, free museum, and weekly articles about nature and heritage. The association is adept at collecting, editing and presenting oral histories that amplify senior narratives.
The documentary will feature seniors sharing heartfelt stories, insights, and memories – creating a living record of St. Maarten’s cultural evolution. The accompanying book will preserve these accounts in written form, ensuring they become a permanent part of the island’s cultural archive.
Although the project centres on seniors, its benefits extend widely. Families gain deeper appreciation for their loved ones’ journeys, educators receive culturally rich material rooted in firsthand testimony, and the broader public gains an authentic window into the experiences that shaped the island. A public launch event, featuring a screening and book distribution, will celebrate the participants and the value of their stories.
This initiative is part of the Let’s ACT Program, which is funded by the Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie FCP. The Let’s ACT Program began in April and is a collaborative initiative of CEDE Aruba, the St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF), and Foresee Foundation (4CF). The program, which is designed to expand public access to the arts, support local creatives, and build a sustainable cultural and artistic infrastructure on St. Maarten and Aruba, will run through September 2026, empowering local artists and cultural organisations through funding, training, mentorship, and community engagement.
Through this project, the voices of St. Maarten’s elders, often unheard yet deeply significant, are being documented and celebrated, strengthening the island’s cultural memory and honouring the people who shaped it.
