Successful Conclusion of 2nd Reading Festival Sint Maarten Edition
Biblionef Netherlands, in collaboration with, Help Our Children Foundation, 721 Kids Foundation, the Sint Maarten Library, University of St. Martin, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport, proudly announces the successful conclusion of the 2nd Reading Festival Sint Maarten Edition, held on September 26 and 27, 2025, at the University of St. Martin. As part of Sint Maarten’s Literacy Month celebrations, the two-day event brought together over 1,000 children, parents, and teachers in a powerful celebration of reading, storytelling, and creativity.
This year’s festival built on the success of its 2024 debut with exciting new additions, most notably, the introduction of the AI Story Zone, where children ages 12+ explored the power of technology by creating their own digital stories using tools like Book Creator and Write Reader. The new feature received enthusiastic feedback from both students and educators, combining creativity, literacy, and 21st-century skills in an engaging way.
Festival highlights included:
- Storytelling sessions led by local and international storytellers such as Clara Reyes, Linda Moise and Crissen Schorea.
- Reading sessions led by local and international authors such as Greta Rodney, Ralph Cantave, Cassilda Thomas Carty and Collin Bootman.
- Interactive reading games and hands-on activities
- The already famous Drama Theatre and puppet shows by the teachers in training at USM
- Creative workshops on writing, digital storytelling, reading tips for early and fluent readers.
- The donation of over 2,600 books to children and school libraries
“We are thrilled with the success of this year’s festival,” said Bethzy Gianella Chiang, Director of Biblionef Netherlands. “Seeing children not only fall in love with reading but also confidently create their own stories using AI tools was truly inspiring. It shows that with the right opportunities, every child can become both a reader and a creator. We were also very encouraged by the enthusiasm of parents and teachers, who expressed great interest in learning more about how to motivate their children to read and keep reading. We believe the Reading Festival is helping to build a true reading culture in Sint Maarten, and we are delighted to be part of this journey.”
On Friday, September 26, students from Group 5 (ages 8–9) attended a morning of reading activities at the University. The other groups enjoyed fun-filled literacy activities at their schools throughout the week — before, during, and even after the Reading Festival — supported by teachers, storytellers, authors, and volunteers.
On Saturday, September 27, the event opened to the general public with a full-day program that included author readings, interactive booths, special workshops for parents and educators, and the AI Story Zone.
Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive. One parent shared:
“My children have always loved books, but this event took it to a whole new level. They came home not just talking about what they read, but about the story they created!”
Teachers and parents also expressed their appreciation for the workshops organized for them:
“We found the book and all the materials around The Adventures of Anansi so compelling. We learned so much about how to use them in our classes,” shared one teacher after attending the Stories of Anansi workshop.
Participants of the ‘Reading Tips for Early and Fluent Readers’ sessions also shared encouraging feedback:
“These sessions were eye-opening. We now have so many practical ideas to help both beginning and fluent readers stay motivated. It really inspired us to make reading a more joyful part of every day,” commented one of the attending parents.
To ensure the initiative’s sustainability, Biblionef Netherlands has compiled and preserved all the games, materials, and resources used during the Reading Festival. These items are now available through the library to be borrowed by schools and daycares, allowing them to continue promoting reading and playful learning throughout the year.
Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Hon. Melissa D. Gumbs, commended the organizers and partners, highlighting how the festival aligns with the Ministry’s broader education agenda:
“Every child deserves the gift of literacy, not only the ability to read words, but to understand, imagine, and create new worlds through them. As we work to strengthen literacy and numeracy across our education system, we are also embracing technology as a powerful tool for learning. The Reading Festival shows that when innovation meets imagination, our students don’t just consume knowledge, they build it.”
For more information about the Reading Festival and upcoming initiatives, please visit www.readingfestivals.com, or follow us on Instagram and Facebook at @ReadingFestivals. For inquiries, contact us at info@biblionef.org.
Many thanks to all our sponsors who made this event possible:
The Dutch Foundation for Literature
Centrale Bank Curaçao & St. Marteen
Stichting Kadaster
SXM Notary Richards
Justice 4 All Consultancy
The Sint Maarten Lions Club
The Rotary Clubs of St. Martin
Seven Seas Water Group
Port St. Maarten
The Daily Herald
Holland House Beach Hotel
Cavalier Logistics
Carrefour Market
Domino’s Pizza
Sunny Food
The Bute Hotel Divico
Print Express & Graphics
