The Diaspora Homecoming Summit Suriname commenced on Saturday in Paranam, marking a significant step towards fostering growth, hope, and sustainable collaboration between the diaspora and local communities. Held at the G.A. Kortschool in La Vigilantia, the event was inaugurated with the symbolic planting of a tree by the Diaspora Institute Netherlands (DIN) and the Diaspora Institute Suriname (DIS), alongside local partners. This gesture underscores the project’s commitment to youth empowerment and community development in Paranam. The initiative’s first phase includes the renovation of a classroom equipped with modern educational tools such as computers, school supplies, and a smartboard. Additionally, two students have been awarded full scholarships for four years, while an exchange program with a school in the Netherlands aims to provide international learning experiences. A second pillar of the project focuses on nutrition and agriculture. Through microcredits, local farmers are supported in cultivating papaya, cassava, and soeptayer, with the harvest used to provide students with nutritious soup and fresh fruit weekly, and eventually daily. The initiative also aims to establish a sustainable processing chain, including a pulp machine and freezing facilities, to ensure year-round access to healthy food. Organizers envision the Paranam model as a blueprint for other communities across the country, emphasizing that what begins with one tree, one classroom, and two students can grow into a movement that benefits generations to come.
Diaspora Homecoming Summit gestart met boomplanting en investeringen in jeugd
