Founder of Breathe Better Air

In 2017, Hurricane Irma hit Sint Maarten. I was sent away to live with relatives, separated from my island and my parents. The aftermath of Hurricane Irma had long-lasting effects on St. Maarten, with debris piling up on the overloaded Pondfill Dump, which continued to burn throughout 2018. When I returned to the island, I began suffering from severe asthma attacks due to the smoke emitted by the burning dump. Wearing a mask to school and even in the classroom became unbearable. Determined to make a difference, I took matters into my own hands and initiated the Breathe Better Air Campaign to raise awareness. With the help of friends and volunteers, I launched a social and print media campaign, fundraised by selling tshirts with my logo design on it, and did a medical survey of how the smoke was affecting the health of embattled residents, Eventually, the World Bank intervened and extinguished the dump fires.

Continuing my activism, I focused on promoting alternatives to single-use plastics. In November 2020, my advocacy alongside the efforts of the Green Initiatives, led to the passage of a law by Parliament banning single-use plastics. Inspired by my experiences, I began writing a children's book titled "Kim Saves The Ocean." Throughout the process, I learned what building a product from scratch meant. I drafted the story, sketched my vision for each page, and collaborated with an illustrator to bring it to life. Patience was crucial as there were numerous inspirations and changes along the way. "Kim Saves The Ocean" is now poised to play a role in the government of St. Maarten's Plastic Free SXM Project, which aims to educate young people in schools and raise awareness about the dangers of single-use plastics on the island.