Aweek in Barbados has come to an end.
Together with Kimmy’s Land, I was part of a group of 47 people who travelled to Barbados for a cultural exchange. It was not only a wonderful experience for the children, but also a week in which it once again became clear how important it is to offer young people opportunities to learn, play sports and encounter other cultures outside their familiar environment.
Compliments to Kimberly and her team, who ensured every day that there was food and that everything was clearly communicated in the app group.
During the stay, there were two performances in which our children came together with children from Barbados. The welcome was warm, the stay was well organised and, most importantly, the children enjoyed themselves.
The organisation by the responsible ministry also deserves appreciation. The ministry arranged transport and other practical matters. That may seem self-evident, but good organisation is extremely important for a trip abroad involving so many children and supervisors.
More than just a trip
Such a cultural exchange is much more than a pleasant trip abroad.
Children become acquainted with another country, other customs and other young people. They learn to adapt, to take each other into account and to function within a group. They discover that the world is bigger than their own neighbourhood, school or country.
What also struck me in Barbados was the attention paid to young people and sports. There, you can see how important sport can be for a child’s development.
Sport is not only about winning or losing. A child who plays sports learns to be on time and to listen to a coach. The child learns to practise, even when something does not work immediately. The child learns to deal with disappointments and to try again.
In addition, a child learns to cooperate and understand that sometimes personal interests must be set aside for the team. These are qualities that will be needed everywhere later in life.
Discipline begins at a young age
In Suriname, we talk a lot about problems among young people: school dropout, crime, drug use, a lack of discipline and young people who see insufficient prospects for the future.
But then we must also dare to look at what we offer our children.
Where can they go after school? How many sports opportunities are there in the neighbourhoods? How many sports fields are properly maintained? How many associations can accommodate children whose parents have little money? And how much do we really invest in coaches, supervisors and youth programmes?
We cannot intervene only once a young person goes off track. Too often, we are behind the facts. Guidance must begin much earlier.
Sport can play an important role in this. A child who receives structure and learns to cooperate and take responsibility carries those lessons to school, home and later to work.
A disciplined child has a better foundation to grow into a successful adult.
Investing in youth is not a luxury
That is why I hope that our government will view sport and youth development much more as a serious investment, rather than something that receives attention only when there happens to be money left over.
We have enough talent in Suriname, but talent alone is not enough. Children need good facilities and coaches. They need people who guide, correct and motivate them. They must also be given the opportunity to gain experience outside Suriname.
Cultural exchanges such as this can help with that.
The attention given to seniors in Barbados also stood out to me. Ultimately, a society is not judged only by its beautiful buildings or economic figures, but also by the way it treats its children, older people and other vulnerable groups.
This trip has given our children wonderful memories. Hopefully, they have also taken away something that will last much longer: new experiences, greater self-confidence, discipline, friendships and the awareness that an entire world lies beyond Suriname.
My call to the government is therefore simple: invest in our youth. Invest in sport. Invest in guidance.
Because money we spend well on our children today can save us much greater social problems tomorrow.
