In March 2025, a group of us from Youth Power Germany had the privilege of joining SXM DOET, the largest annual volunteer initiative in Sint Maarten. This extraordinary experience took place during our study visit as part of the Beyond Tokenism: Youth Leading Inclusion project and it left us energised, reflective, and profoundly inspired.
SXM DOET is not just an event. It’s a powerful celebration of community engagement and grassroots action. Organized in coordination with the Dutch Kingdom’s NLdoet platform, it mobilizes thousands of people every year across the Dutch Caribbean. In just two days, volunteers support over a hundred community projects — from fixing playgrounds and gardening at schools, to renovating community centers and supporting local NGOs.
It’s an initiative that shows just how impactful volunteerism can be when people come together for a common cause.
As visiting youth workers and participants in the Beyond Tokenism project, we wanted our time in Sint Maarten to go beyond observation. We wanted to connect meaningfully with the local community and volunteering with SXM DOET gave us the perfect opportunity to do so.
Over the course of two days, we joined a variety of volunteer projects:
Each task brought us closer to the community, allowed us to see the island from a different lens, and reminded us of the universal language of solidarity and service.
Volunteering during our study visit Beyond Tokenism agenda, it was one of the most real and embodied ways to understand the very principles we were there to explore: youth participation, inclusion, ownership, and action.
We learned that inclusion doesn’t just happen in policy documents or meetings, it happens on the ground, in shared work, in listening, in being useful to others. We felt firsthand how volunteering helps dissolve barriers and builds genuine relationships.
And perhaps most importantly: we learned that even small gestures — painting a wall, tidying a room, sharing a laugh — can spark big change.
As we left Sint Maarten, our hearts were full. Not only had we learned through exchanges, but we had done something tangible alongside local people. It was a beautiful reminder of why Beyond Tokenism exists: to push youth participation from symbolic to meaningful, from the margins to the centre.
We are deeply grateful to the community, local partners and organisations for their kindness, hospitality, and spirit.
To anyone considering joining SXM DOET in the future, do it! Whether you’re local or visiting, young or old, skilled or learning — there’s a place for you to make a difference.
👉 Learn more about SXM DOET and how you can get involved:
www.sxmdoet.com