On Monday April 23rd  2007, the Global Campaign for Education was closed with a large celebration of about 500 children on the Independence square, forming different figures like a flower and a heart and a human chain. With music and flags the activity was transformed into a real festivity. The presence and active participation of the Minister of Education, Mr. Edwin Wolf, the chairperson of the permanent board for education in the National Assembly, Mrs. Jennifer Geerlings–Simons, the head of the Bureau for Primary Education, Mr. Kenneth Biervliet, and the Director of the Foundation for Roman Catholic Special Education, Mr. Ricardo Kenswil, made this closing even more exceptional.

This year, Suriname participated in the Global Campaign for Education for the second time. He theme was “Education as a Human Right”. The Foundation for Christian Educational Projects in Suriname was in charge of the campaign. The purpose of the campaign was to focus on the millennium goals in the educational field.

The campaign was launched on Monday, March 5th with a discussion in which about 70 students from 10 primary schools participated. The discussion was centered around some propositions, namely
- Children’s rights are human rights
- Without education, no future
- Education is the wish of every human being

As an expert, doctor Marian Macknack, Director of the Medical Pedagogic Bureau, had a seat in the panel. The participating children continued the discussion in their schools.

During the Children’s Book Festival in Brokopondo, Paramaribo en Commewijne, there was a special activity stand where children could work on a Mamio, a large cloth, consisting of many small pieces of cloth. On this cloth the children could write down their which for proper education for all, after having had a discussion on the right to education. Because not every child in Suriname and in the rest of the world have access to education, there were some holes in the Mamio, just to remind us the goal “Education For All” has not been reached yet.

Furthermore the children interviewed some authorities on educational matters during this campaign, among others the chairperson on the permanent board for education in the National Assembly, the head of the department for Education in the Interior, Mr. Bert Eersteling, the director of the Foundation for Roman Catholic Special education, the coordinator of the Foundation for Parental Participation, Mrs. Rita Day and the head of the Bureau for Primary Education, Mr. Kenneth Biervliet.

Billboards were placed in different spots alongside main roads, and a website was launched, containing current information about the Global Campaign For Education.

During the Global Action Week from April 23rd  to April 29th  , which closed the Global Campaign For Education 2007, important officials received a book in which children give their opinion on the educational system in Suriname through letters, stories, poems and drawings. Furthermore articles on the campaign were published in the local papers. Also a film was made, providing a summary of the activities. This Global Campaign For Education film was broadcast via Apintie Television on Sunday, April 29th. In the coming days it will also be broadcast via other television stations.

The climax of the Global Action Week was the celebration on the Independence Square. During two days children practiced to form the different figures. The performance was lead by  the head of the Department of Sports Affairs, Mr Michael Watson and Mrs. Tessa Tjoe Ny and Mr. Romeo de Meza. En was executed by sports instructors of the Ministry of Defense. The children were wearing head-scarves in the colors of the Surinam flag, forming a colorful sight. The speeches of the Minister of Education and other Officials proved that there is hope for good cooperation between these youngsters and adults to achief the goal of Eduction For All for everyone in Suriname and the rest of the World.

Paramaribo, May 2007
Foundation Stichting Projekten

The Global Campaign for Education 2007 in Suriname has been succesful. The Minister of Education and some policy makers of the Ministry of education have participated in the chain on April 23rd on the Independant Square in front of the Presidential Palace. The message was clear: Education is a human right! Education for all. On behalf of the foundation Stichting Projekten, greetings from Agnes Ritfeld
Forming figures in front of Presidential Palace
Forming figures in front of Presidential Palace
Spontaneous participation by the Minister of Education
	The Policy makers in the center of the figures
Billboard	Discussiedag
Discussiedag	Discussiedag
Enthousiasme	Handen in de lucht
In een rechte lijn	Oefening
Offening Global op Onafhankelijkheidsplein	Offening Global op Onafhankelijkheidsplein
Offening Global voor paleis	Trainers doen ook mee
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