CUL-DE-SAC – Actively working to finance social development programs and projects on St. Maarten, the St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) has seen its staff grow with its operations. With over twenty non-profit foundations as clients, SMDF now has two new members on its staff, namely Jennai Marlin as Financial Administrator and Makhicia Brooks as Program & Development Manager.

Both young professionals who have returned to St. Maarten, these young ladies are committed to the advancement of social development on St. Maarten.

A graduate of Milton Peters College, Jennai Marlin obtained a Bachelors degree in International Finance Management from the Hogeschool van Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences in 2015. Since attaining her degree, Marlin has completed assignments for a number of large entities on St. Maarten such as NV GEBE, KPMG St. Maarten and APS. Outside of the realm of financial management, Marlin is passionate about the development of social programs within communities. Marlin has dedicated herself to organizations such as programs such as Stichting Soualiga Foundation, St. Maarten Student Support Services, and Youth Alive, amongst others. As SMDF’s Financial Administrator, Marlin conducts reviews of clients’ financial reports and ensures sound financial management and accountability for all of our clients.

After graduating from St. Dominic High School, Makhicia Brooks furthered her studies to graduate summa cum laude from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master’s degree in International Development from American University in Washington DC. Immediately after completing her studies, she took a position as an Economic Policy Advisor at the Department of Economy, Transportation & Telecommunications of Government St. Maarten. She has also served as a lecturer in Project Management of USM’s School of Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning. Using her experience as a Policy Advisor and knowledge of Project Management, Brooks will be charged with taking SMDF to its next level of development. In her role, she will maintain communication with the SMDF’s clients, evaluate grant applications, monitor funded programs and projects, and develop new sources of donor contributions.  

Throughout 2016, SMDF supported a number of foundations in the areas of youth development, social care, senior care, gender support and poverty alleviation. In supporting these organization such as New Start for Children Foundation, Helping Hands Foundation, Ujima Foundation, Belvedere Community Foundation, Maximizing Pupils Chances Foundation, Home Away From Home Foundation, I Too Can Learn Foundation, St. Maarten AIDS Foundation, No Kidding With Our Kids Foundation, Voice of the Youth Foundation, Dr. J. Foundation and the Bishop Ellis Foundation amongst others, SMDF was able to provide financial and non-financial support to directly improve St. Maarten’s social development. For 2017, SMDF hopes to expand its funding and development abilities even more with Ms. Marlin and Ms. Brooks on staff.