In a significant step toward youth development, the Wanica Heroes initiative by the Foundation Weid Mijn Lammeren has successfully concluded its comprehensive nine-month training program for adolescents from Suriname’s Koewarasan district. The project, which focused on building resilience, proper Dutch language proficiency, and athletic skills, culminated on January 5th with a formal certificate ceremony presided over by President Jennifer Simons.
The program emerged as an extension of the foundation’s earlier educational outreach, which provided guidance and decision-making tools to over 400 children across multiple schools. President Simons emphasized that the certificate distribution symbolizes collective commitment to personal development and acquiring life-critical skills. She acknowledged ongoing challenges in youth development, stressing that collaborative efforts remain essential to creating secure upbringing environments for Surinamese children.
Coinciding with the graduation event, President Simons officially launched the dedicated digital platform wanicaheroes.sr. This online resource center serves as an informational repository addressing critical youth issues including depression, social media awareness, suicidal ideation, and bullying prevention. The website specifically targets educators, caregivers, and support professionals seeking resources for youth guidance.
Project pioneers Marijke Etnel-Cairo and Gloria Lie Kwie Sjoe-Wong Swie San developed the initiative to address systemic gaps in youth support. Henri Henar, former board member of the Staatsolie Foundation Fund, noted the rarity of such holistic proposals, observing that most funding requests typically focus on infrastructure projects rather than human development programs.
Despite evident need, organizers reported persistent challenges with parental engagement. Lie Kwie Sjoe highlighted that children frequently communicate more openly with professional helpers than with family members, urging communities to encourage youth seeking assistance from trusted individuals and institutions rather than creating barriers.
Gracia Ormskirk, Director of General Formative Education (AVO), reinforced the necessity of continuous guidance in developing resilience and proper conduct among youth facing substantial societal pressures. She called upon parents and educators to maintain persistent dialogue with young people, ensuring they comprehend core values and societal expectations.