As part of our education project in the tropical rainforest of Suriname, South America, we organised a field trip for 334 schoolchildren. Most were between six to 10-years-old and were from the village of Brownsweg.
This transmigration village, 13 km from Brownsberg mountain nature park, was formed from 5,000 people from several maroon tribes that formerly lived along the Surinam river. In 1964 they were relocated by the Surinamese government when the gates of the Afobaka Dam (Afobaka means grandmothers back) closed, forming the Brokopondo Lake. The hydro-electric dam now powers the capital, Paramaribo. Brownsweg has since become characterised by high unemployment and the prevalence of illegal gold-mining.
Almost three quarters of the youngsters from the village, despite living so close to the mountain, had not set foot on its slopes previously. Thanks to funding from WWF, we organised transportation and food, an interpretive trail through the rainforest, an educational video on the biodiversity of Brownsberg, a viewing of the village from the mountain using binoculars (for most this was also a first) and an art project including two murals. We also filmed HDV footage, which we hope will prove persuasive in future funding negotiations. (Wanwan futu e doro bergi translates to Step by step we climb the mountain).
