Focus areas of the Youth Education and Leadership Foundation

The focus of the Youth Education and Leadership Foundation is to research development issues and the requisite strategies to tackle them. The organization is guided by the principle of professionalism, integrity and synergy and aims to reach these objectives by: implementing development programs in various fields and conducting high level research and publications on topics regarding the most pressing problems in the Caribbean. The organization focusses on the following areas:

Youth

The youth program focusses on creating training, workshops and coaching for young adults The target group for these training are usually working professionals that work for the public sector, civil society whose scope of work includes national and international issues.

Education

In Suriname 97% of children are enrolled in primary education, but serious disparities exist between coastal, rural and the interior of the country. While Suriname is on track to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), there are significant geographical gender and socio – economic disparities, with particular concern for children, boys and girls, in Sipaliwini where progress is significantly below target. In the District of Sipaliwini, 77% of the population —from the age of 15—have a primary school education. Only 1% have a degree in a higher education. The YELF covers different projects that have been implemented in the district of Sipaliwini in partnership with local communities and the primary schools.

Leadership

Governance and Socio- economic development

The focus of governance is political governance, democratic governance Integrity and state development in the Caribbean. The mission of this program is to analyze interrelated policies to determine how Suriname’s socio-economic development is effected within the broader Caribbean.

Sustainable Development and Climate challenges

This program aims to study Climate change, a phenomenon with no borders. The different issues related to climate change are addressed from different perspectives. The Caribbean are the world’s most highly impacted region due to climate change. Climate Change challenges need to be addressed, if not than the consequences will be felt by future generations. This initiative focusses on a long term solutions to combat the impact of climate change in Suriname as part of the Caribbean.

Governance

The organization consist of three board members that are responsible for the governance of the YELF. The secretary is responsible for managing the administrative activities of the board. The chair is responsible for the strategic vision of the foundation. The organization is supported by experts in the education, leadership and other fields.

Vision

“If you want to change a people, educate them”