In 1993, Apana van Leeuwaarde began her career in youth care. For many years, she worked in this field in the Netherlands as an outpatient counselor, trainer, and coach.

Even then, she knew that one day she would return to Suriname to contribute to the development of Surinamese young people. In 2010, she decided to make the move. With the trust and financial support of people from her personal network, and by contributing her own resources, she was able to establish the Youth Empowerment Suriname (YES) foundation in March 2011. A month later, YES launched its first training program at a MULO (secondary school) school in a socially disadvantaged neighborhood in Paramaribo. This laid the foundation for realizing her dream and mission. Since then, YES has expanded to several schools, and more than 1,200 students have completed the training and coaching program, earning their YES certificate.

Apana van Leeuwaarde is driven by a deep conviction: to take responsibility for contributing to each other’s well-being and to society as a whole. She believes that investing intensively in opportunities for young people to connect more deeply with their own potential is the key. From this passion and commitment, she continues to shape the work of Youth Empowerment Suriname.