QI Club Surinam

Quota International of Suriname was chartered on March 14, 1997. The International Representative Enid Croes-Marugg presented the charter at that time as Lt. District Governor of District 27.
The primary organizer was Hetty van den Ouweelen, member of Quota International of Curacao. The club chartered with 15 members.

The club decided early on to select one major target group and several smaller projects. The major project was the Grietjebieschool, being the only institution of learning for children with a severe mental handicap in Paramaribo. The smaller projects were the Kennedy Foundation (school for hearing-impaired youngsters) and Fatima Oord (home for elderly citizens).
The Grietjebieschool project required an amount of US$. 90.000. - for renovation activities. The funds were donated by local representatives of foreign Foundations, Embassies and local organizations and business people.

In 2000 the Grietjebieschool project was completed and Quota Suriname made a five-year commitment for maintenance of the school building and premises.
In search for an institution that could guarantee advanced training and education opportunities for pupils that have to leave the Grietjebieschool at age 16, Quota Suriname came upon Stizona, a sheltered workplace for young Surinamers in the age category 16-25.
After having set-up a project plan, Quota Suriname presented this plan to potential donors. The project is estimated at US$. 200.000. -. So far half of the required funds have been raised through activities employed by Radio TV. Rijnmond in Rotterdam, Holland.
The remainder will be yielded by Quota Suriname's fundraising activities and by local foundations and organizations.
Quota Suriname's own fundraising activities include our yearly recurrent "signature" fundraiser: Men cook-out.
This is one of the activities that has made Quota Suriname well known in the community.

Simultaneously activities are being executed for the benefit of our other target groups: the hearing-impaired and elderly citizens.

Quota Suriname has had the good fortune to be included in the Club-to-Club service program of Quota International and we have heard good news from Kathleen Treiber, Executive Director of Quota International: funds are coming in for Stizona!
Also our sister district club in Rotterdam has co-adopted the Stizona project and it is amazing how committed the Rotterdam Quotarians are towards this project.

Quota Suriname counts per May 2001 with a total membership of 25 members.