On September 25, 2025, the Protection, Restoration, and Sustainable Use of Mangrove Forests (PRSUMF) project, in collaboration with Forest Service-Nature Conservation Division in Nickerie of the Ministry of Land Policy and Forest Management – Nature Conservation Division, held a Youth Awareness Session with children from Children’s Home Gaytrie. As one of UNDP’s core principles is to leave no one behind, the Children’s Home Gaytrie, which provides shelter to disenfranchised children, was chosen to ensure their inclusion in educational and environmental awareness initiatives. In the conference room of this Division of the mentioned Ministry, the children were informed about the different mangrove types in Suriname, their role in nature, the biodiversity in the mangrove ecosystem and the threats mangroves face, due to human activities and the changing climate, but more importantly how we can protect them.

The children were able to express their perception of the mangroves by engaging in arts and crafts activities. When observing their paintings about the mangrove ecosystems, the presence of animals, such as the scarlet ibis and the emphases on the wetlands, and roots of the red mangroves reflect their interpretation on the environment, acknowledging the important functions that the mangrove ecosystems have.

 The Director of the Children’s Home Gaytrie, Ms. Gomtie Pahladsingh, acknowledged the importance of engaging with the youth, “because activities such as these trigger their curiosity, which stimulates them to read more and increase their awareness of mangrove ecosystems. These children are our future scientists or professionals engaging in the protection of the mangroves”. The director also encourages other organizations that work with children to engage in initiatives of the PRSUMF project or propose activities for collaboration.

The PRSUMF project is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Suriname, in collaboration with the Government of Suriname, and is funded by the European Union. The PRSUMF builds on previous successes that the UNDP has had, as the EU’s implementing partner, for mangrove-related initiatives in Suriname. Together we can Protect, Restore and make Sustainable use of the Mangrove Forests – PRSUMF