The planetGOLD Suriname project, in collaboration with the Medical Mission (MZ), has launched a new phase of community-based awareness activities in Nyun Jakobkondre, a Matawai Maroon village along the Kleine Saramacca river. Under the initiative titled “Promotion and Formalization of Mercury-Free Gold in Suriname,” this phase builds on the recently completed training of the GZA’s and now focuses on delivering that knowledge directly to the community through practical field engagement.

Its goal is to reduce and ultimately eliminate the use of mercury in Suriname’s artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector, in alignment with the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Using an integrated approach, including sensitivity to gender dynamics, the project supports miners, communities, government institutions, and other stakeholders in transitioning to cleaner, safer, and more responsible mining practices.

The mission centered on engagement, awareness raising, knowledge sharing, informing, and community interactions. Upon arrival in Nyun Jakobkondre, the team was warmly welcomed by Village Captain Elmont, a respected female leader within the Matawai tribe. During the introduction meeting, the team explained the purpose of the mission, its objectives, activities, and the groups it aims to reach. Captain Elmont expressed her full support and offered her blessing for all planned activities.

With this foundation in place, planetGOLD Suriname and the local committee will proceed with practical sessions aimed at strengthening community capacity, increasing awareness of mercury-related health and environmental risks, and supporting the transition toward mercury-free practices in alignment with the planetGOLD mission.

This collaboration highlights Suriname’s collective effort to protect community health, safeguard the environment, and advance toward a more responsible and mercury-free future for the gold sector.

The planetGOLD Suriname / GEF GOLD+ project is funded by the Global Environment Fund (GEF) with a USD 5,250,000 grant. The project is implemented jointly with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).