Suriname Ministry of Youth Development prepares 750 youths for work project

The Suriname Ministry of Youth Development and Sport (JOS) is preparing 750 young people, aged 16 to 25, for a ten-day vacation work employment project. The initiative is part of the GRO holiday program (Growth, Direction, Development) and is being implemented in collaboration with the Directorate of Public Greenery and Waste Management (OGA).

Participants will be deployed to assist at care institutions and engage in litter removal. Beyond providing temporary employment, the program aims to build essential labor market skills, including communication, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving. Training sessions began on August 25 for youth from Wanica, Saramacca, Commewijne, and Coronie, with other districts scheduled for training later in the week.

The official program is set to launch on August 31 across all ten districts. Participants will work in two groups to complete the ten-day duration. The government has allocated SRD 4 million for the project. While the target was 750 positions, more than 1,000 youths registered, indicating high demand. Participants will receive a daily wage of SRD 400, totaling SRD 4,360 for the full period.