Art Saves Lives Foundation funded a collaborative mural workshop that gave foster youth in St. Maarten a meaningful creative outlet and a powerful way to share their stories, emotions, and hopes for the future.
Creating a Space to Be Seen and Heard
For young people whose experiences are often described by adults and institutions, creating art can offer something deeply important: the opportunity to speak in their own language.
As part of Foster Care Awareness Month 2026, Art Saves Lives funded a Mural Design Workshop led by local ASLF teaching artist Zillah Duzon Hazel. During the workshop, foster youth worked together to transform their personal reflections into a vibrant piece of visual storytelling.
The mural became more than a canvas. It became a shared voice, carrying affirmations of strength, love, protection, possibility, and belonging.
Guided by a Teaching Artist Who Cares
Zillah Duzon Hazel guided the young artists through the process with care, patience, and purpose. Her role was not simply to teach painting techniques. She helped create an environment where each participant could contribute ideas, explore emotions, and see those experiences honored in a collective work of art.
Every color, figure, and written affirmation added another layer to the story. Together, the participants created a mural that speaks to the dignity and potential of children in foster care.
Foster the Future
The mural was created as part of a broader initiative organized by Judicial & Institutional Services (J&IS), through its Foster Families Central Department. Under the theme "Foster the Future," the program sought to educate the community, build empathy, and inspire meaningful action on behalf of children in foster care.
Foster Care Awareness Month officially launched at the Belair Community Center on May 5, 2026. The event brought together creative expression, personal testimony, and community advocacy. Dance, drama, spoken word, music, and visual storytelling all helped center the lived experiences, needs, and aspirations of children in care.
The completed mural was displayed as a powerful example of what can happen when young people are given the space and support to express themselves.
Art That Continued to Give
The mural was placed in a silent auction to raise funds for opportunities, experiences, and support for children in foster care. RISE Foundation submitted the winning bid, extending the impact of the project beyond the workshop itself.
By participating in the auction, RISE Foundation helped ensure that the young artists' work would continue to support other children while preserving a meaningful piece of St. Maarten's community story.
Building a Community of Care
The purpose of Foster the Future reaches beyond awareness. It calls on individuals, families, organizations, and institutions to take an active role in building a community where every child can feel safe, supported, and valued.
Art Saves Lives is proud to have supported this initiative and grateful to Zillah Duzon Hazel for guiding it with dedication and compassion. We also thank the young artists who trusted the creative process and shared their voices through this extraordinary work.
Their mural reminds us that art can create space for healing, build understanding, and move a community toward action.
With Thanks To
The participating young artists · Zillah Duzon Hazel · Judicial & Institutional Services · Foster Families Central · RISE Foundation · the foster families, advocates, and community partners supporting children in care
Source: Soualiga Newsday: FOSTER THE FUTURE. Sint Maarten Unites to Launch Foster Care Awareness Month 2026