Offices & Departments
Peace Corps
Welcome to the Peace Corps of Paramaribo, Suriname. Franchepanestraat 12-16
Phone: 463-728, 463-769, 497-079
Fax: 463-879
Since its founding in 1961, more than 155,000 people have served in 134 developing countries around the world as Peace Corps Volunteers. Their purpose is to promote people-to-people contact between Americans and foreign nationals and to work with local communities on sustainable projects that promote the economic development, education, health, and other key areas, areas that have been identified by the host government (Suriname’s Ministry of Regional Development) as priorities.
The United States Peace Corps has been active in Suriname over the past nine years. Since 1994, more than 250 volunteers have served in Suriname. Today, there are 51 volunteers in country working on the following areas:
Education
Volunteers involved in education are placed in local schools and community centers to reinforce the education provided. Through cooperation and coordination with community leaders, volunteers identify and devise structural programs to encourage more active participation of children in schools. Volunteers are involved, for example, in assisting with a variety of after-school programs and libraries and activities for parents to promote education in the interior of Suriname
Health
Peace Corps Volunteers are assigned in Paramaribo and other cities and villages throughout the country to work on the fight against HIV/AIDS and on water and sanitation projects. Working with non governmental organizations and local and national government actors, volunteers assist in envisioning, organizing, and carrying out public awareness campaigns about HIV/AIDS, grant writing for HIV/AIDS projects, and other programs to assist in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Volunteers also work with community leaders to install quality water and sanitation facilities and to promote health awareness programs.
Volunteers involved in programs with local communities and entrepreneurs to educate about sound business practices and to develop and engage in income-generating activities. The programs are designed to promote sustainability and to encourage investment back into local communities.