U Fiti: Saamaka women lead the way for their community in Suriname

In 2022 they formed an organization called U Fiti (“Women qualified”) to have more opportunities and to participate more actively with the Association of Saamaka Authorities (VSG) in local decision-making and local territorial governance.

In 2023 Tropenbos Suriname strengthened the women in U Fiti through leadership training. The women learned about tools for effective and inclusive leadership; this has helped them become more engaged in advocacy for land rights and environmental protection and in awareness campaigns. In November 2023 one young woman, together with the VSG, participated in a hearing at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, where they made a strong statement on the urgency of protecting the rights of the Saamaka people. U Fiti has taken the lead in mobilizing community members to act against logging multinationals in their territories. The group has also created awareness among the Saamaka community of land rights and of the need to demand legal recognition and support for sustainable management.

Their efforts are reaching other communities and areas in Suriname. For example, group members are organizing cultural and knowledge exchanges with women from the district of Coronie in the country’s coastal area to encourage them to build meaningful entrepreneurship networks.

As they look to the future, the women of U Fiti know that their work is far from over. They are determined to continue fighting for their rights and the rights of their people, and to create a better future for the next generation of Saamaka women.