A decades-old public primary school in Suriname is set to welcome students back for the new academic year to a completely upgraded campus, thanks to $85,000 in generous donations from two Chinese organizations that have enabled a comprehensive infrastructure overhaul. Julius Lobato Public School, located in the Paramaribo-Zuid district of the South American nation, has wrapped up most of its large-scale renovation work, with only minor final tasks remaining. School administration has confirmed that these last-minute jobs will not disrupt the scheduled start of classes, according to official reports from the Communication Service of Suriname.
Of the total donated funds, $50,000 was contributed by the government of Wencheng County in China’s Zhejiang Province, while an additional $35,000 came from the Zhejiang Shang Foundation. The funding has supported upgrades across nearly every critical part of the school’s aging main building: decaying doors, cracked walls, damaged ceilings and unstable structural columns have all been repaired or replaced. Outdated plumbing and toilet facilities, which had plagued the school for years, have also been fully renovated, and the entire building has received a fresh coat of paint to modernize its appearance.
For school principal Olivia Adjaiso, the long-overdue renovation brings an end to years of unsafe and uncomfortable learning conditions that students and staff endured. “The school had been falling apart for more than a decade,” Adjaiso explained in an interview. “We dealt with constant broken toilets, inconsistent clean water access, and frequent unplanned power outages that interrupted classes. There’s nothing more important than giving kids a space where they feel safe, comfortable, and ready to learn. That’s what this renovation gives us.” While a small number of cosmetic finishing works are still ongoing, Adjaiso emphasized that these will not interfere with the first day of the new school year, and can be completed gradually once classes are in session.
The cross-border donation project did not happen by accident: it was facilitated by intentional relationship-building from the Paramaribo-Zuid district administration. District Commissioner Wennys Vijfhoven first established connections with leaders from Wencheng County during an official visit to Zhejiang, and those conversations eventually developed into the formal donation commitment. After Wencheng County pledged its initial $50,000 contribution, the Zhejiang Shang Foundation stepped in to add an additional $35,000 to expand the scope of the renovation.
At an event marking the near-completion of the project, Vijfhoven highlighted that investments in school infrastructure are ultimately investments in the next generation. “Upgrading buildings is important, but what matters most is that this directly improves the lives of children and the future of education in our district,” she said, extending sincere gratitude to the two Chinese donor organizations for their partnership, as well as to the school leadership for coordinating the work throughout the renovation process.
Satish Chandai, a representative from the Cabinet of the President of Suriname, echoed this appreciation, reiterating that a healthy, secure learning environment is a foundational requirement for quality education, and that the government greatly values this international support for local public education. Even former students who have long graduated have taken notice of the dramatic change. Giorgy Emanuel, an alumnus of Julius Lobato Public School, recalled the poor conditions he encountered during his time at the institution, from broken restroom facilities to constant water and power disruptions. “The difference now is night and day,” Emanuel said. “This new facility will give current students the learning experience they deserve, one that I never got to have.”