Mission and Objectives

The Youth Empowerment Suriname (YES) foundation aims to make an effective contribution to developing a positive self-image among young people in Suriname. In doing so, it seeks to increase their chances of success in education and improve their opportunities in society.

To pursue this goal YES offers intensive trainings, workshops, and coaching programs for young people in Suriname. These focus on developing a positive self-image, helping young people become aware of their strengths and talents. The programs offer them the opportunity to grow in a powerful way and enable them to participate fully in society. They also help prevent some young people from dropping out of school prematurely.

YES rekent tot haar doelgroep alle jongeren in Suriname tussen de 14 jaar en 21 jaar, waarbij zij zich met name richt op de jongeren die door hun sociaal maatschappelijke achtergrond kampen met meervoudige problematiek en daardoor kwetsbaarder zijn.

In Suriname, after completing primary school, students move on to junior secondary education (MULO and LBO). After obtaining their diploma, they can continue to senior secondary education (HAVO and VWO).

The general education system in Suriname is highly focused on knowledge transfer. There is little to no attention given to topics such as personal development, discovering one’s talents, communication skills, and dealing with emotions and conflicts. Many young people in Suriname do not attend senior secondary education and find it difficult to make good life choices. They experience a tremendous lack of guidance in social and emotional areas. The dropout rate within junior secondary education is very high. There is much to be gained through preventive interventions and programs, and this precisely where YES focuses on: on a preventive approach.

Methodology

Various methods are used in the training and coaching programs. Each training is specifically designed depending on the learning level and age group. The approach is based on intensive interactive learning.

The main content areas include:

• Conflict management: Learning to view conflicts differently, namely as opportunities to learn. By being able to transform conflicts, better and stronger relationships can be built.
• Behavioral patterns: Gaining insight into your own (limiting) behavioral patterns and being able to make strong and conscious choices. Among other tools, the Core Quadrant model by Daniel Ofman is used.
• Communication: becoming aware of the different forms of communication. learning to express your opinion and share emotions. The communication method by Marshall Rosenberg is one of the key approaches used.
• Goals: learning to set and plan personal goals, using tools such as the SMART method.
• Leadership: understanding what personal leadership means, becoming aware of your own abilities and qualities. Gaining insight into choices and responsibility.

The residential empowerment training

Since 2015, YES has also been offering a residential empowerment training. This training takes place during the long holidays. Residential means the participants stay on-site for the duration of the training instead of going home each day. This type of training provides greater opportunity to address the personal challenges of participants in depth, as the curriculum allows more space for the physical expression of emotions. The participants are selected from various schools and children's homes. The residential empowerment training is followed by follow-up training days spread over three months, with the aim of further strengthening the young people's motivation and perseverance and coaching them in the challenges they encounter in their daily lives.

Annual Reports

Our project year runs concurrently to the Surinamese school year, from October 1 to September 30.

All our annual reports can be found on the website of YES-NL.