SUMMER SCHOLARS BLOG: Lalash Segooa
Greetings from Suriname, Paramaribo!
I will be spending the summer in Suriname, Paramaribo, what I like to call a ‘hidden gem’ of the world. Usually after the congratulatory messages I received from people once I announced my summer plans. It was often followed by “…wait where did you say you’re spending your summer again? Where in the world is that?!” So, I think it’s only fitting to start with a simple ‘What to know about Suriname’ quick facts by Lalash.
Suriname is a small country located on the northeastern coast of South America. Bordering it from the south is Brazil and on the west is Guyana and French Guiana on the east border. Suriname, formerly known as Dutch Guiana, is the only Dutch speaking country in South America. In fact, the only sovereign country outside of Europe where the prevailing official language is Dutch in media, business, and education. Another interesting fact is that Suriname is home to African, Indonesian, Chinese and Netherlands cultures. I am constantly amazed at the multiculturism in this country (which we’ll get into later). Suriname is the most forested country in the world, with forest covering approximately 93% of its total area. Most people live on the coast, while the interior is also home to several Indigenous and Tribal communities. Why do I call it a hidden gem? It’s because this beautiful nation with only a population between 500,000 and 600,000 people, according to a census conducted in 2012 by the Surinamese government, has been identified as one of the top two places in the world with freshwater reserves and most people I know have barely even heard of the country! And finally, Suriname has some of the friendliest people I have ever met in the world.
Before I get carried away with sharing all the wonderful places and people I have encountered in this country, I should alert you that getting here is not an easy task - well at least in my experience. In total I made it to the airport three times under the assumption that I was leaving just to find that my flight was either cancelled, or there were involuntary flight changes to my booking. And because flights to Suriname only being twice a week from New York City, I was left with the trouble of returning home on three different days to finally leave on my fourth attempt which, in total, delayed my arrival by almost three weeks! Nonetheless after a flight rebooking with a different airline, we finally made it to Suriname! Being that I am South African I am no stranger to Dutch colonial architecture and influence… or so I thought. My Afrikaans stood no chance against the Dutch language. I could hardly keep up, so I was happy to know that English was a great alternative. I do receive the look of disappoint once in a while form the elderly women selling fruit and snacks on the side of the road or the cashiers at the grocery store when I respond in English or have to stop them mid-sentence to indicate that I am English speaking and not a local.
UN staff meet and greet during the Javanese New Year Celebration
A little about the work i’ll be doing this summer
I am stationed at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Country Office in Suriname, Paramaribo. I am officially working in the Social Development and SDG Integration Unit and specifically as an intern for Integrated Policy Development for Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (ITPs) in Suriname. The UNDP offices are in the UN House building and share space with various other UN agencies such as UNICEF, UNFPA, and UNEP to list a few. So far, I have been working on the Joint Program initiative in line with The UN’s mission of Leaving No one Behind. The JP is to address the core problem of inclusivity to reduce vulnerabilities and inequality gaps through integrated policy in hopes to build resilience and improve livelihoods for the ITPs. I have been assigned to assist and work on strengthened policies and intervention framework to improve inclusion and resilience of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples by means of socio-economic assessment and other assessments to establish proper baseline and monitoring milestones (Output 1.1 Activity 3). My first couple weeks entailed a UN House security briefing, meeting the rest of the technical team that I will be working alongside and learning from during my stay. During these weeks I had the privilege of meeting the Resident Representative for Guyana, where he is stationed, and Suriname during his mission to Suriname. As well as the UN Resident Coordinator for Suriname. We had a meet and greet at the office and I also had the pleasure of meeting the rest of the UN staff. It was such a lovely experience. Not only did we get treated to lovely local Surinamese snacks and drinks but it was also a celebration of the Javanese New Year. This was the first year it was officially recognised as a National Holiday. Many government offices, stores and restaurants were closed on the day. Even though the National Holiday does not fall in the UN calendar, at least we got to celebrate at work . . .
Read and see more from Lalash’s blog here
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Our Summer Scholars Blog, a collection of reports from post-grad scholars that UNA-NYC has sponsored globally, showcases our fellows' experiences with UN agencies and non-governmental organizations in the country where they are working. Learn more about our Summer Scholars fellowship program and fellows here.