This document summarizes the activities of JCI Paramaribo, a local chapter of Junior Chamber International, during the first quarter of 2020. It discusses their annual Bigi Broki Waka & Breakfast event in January, annual meeting and board retreat in February, 59th birthday debate competition in late February, leadership training provided to university students in March, and first general meeting of the year in March prior to restrictions related to COVID-19. It also recognizes outstanding member and observer for the quarter and lists key highlights. The newsletter aims to update members on chapter activities while encouraging unity and personal growth during the pandemic lockdown.

1. “Beste JCI Paramaribo
fellows,
Wij zijn inmiddels aan het
eind van het eerste kwartaal
van het jaar 2020. Ik wil
jullie bedanken voor de
onderlinge liefde in de
kamer, maar ook voor de
liefde die wordt getoond aan
de overige chapters van JCI
Suriname. Meer nog geef ik
u een schouderklopje voor
de excellence die u aan de
dag legt. Wij zijn het jaar full
enthousiast gestart en
waren in volle vaart bezig,
totdat wij geconfronteerd
raakten met het Covid-19
virus, dat voor een kleine
set-back heeft gezorgd.
Desalniettemin is uw
participatie op afstand
subliem, mi lob’ unu ekte
jere!. Laten wij ons in deze
lockdown periode, focussen op
onze persoonlijke groei, familie,
mentale stabilitiet en vooral
onze gezondheid. Ik kijk er vol
enthousiasme naar uit om het
jaar 2020 met een JCI
Paramaribo KABOOM af te
sluiten, zodra het sociaal
contact 100% genormaliseerd is
en wij weer normaal kunnen
deelnemen aan het sociaal
leven”. “Het gaat u goed,
bemoedig elkaar aan en
bovenal
#LetLoveWin
#BeBasicallyExcellent
#feticorona
#Besafe
#StayHome
#Flattenthecurve”
Message from Local President, Rinat Adipi
JCI PARAMARIBO
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Basically Excellent

2. JCI Paramaribo Bigi Broki Waka & Breakfast
The ‘Bigi Broki Waka’ has
become our traditional
activity to kick of the new
year with. On January 05,
2020, we participated for the
fourth time in a row in this
annual event and had lots of
fun. With this tradition we
bring our members, observers and guests together and support
a healthy lifestyle at the same time. After the Bigi Broki Waka,
the participants enjoyed a delicious healthy breakfast together at
the head quarter of JCI Paramaribo, Kennedy Stichting.
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3. Our first meeting of the year
was organized on January
18, 2020. The team of the
board 2020 is ‘Wakanda’,
which was reflected well in
the decoration of the venue
and the dresscode of the
night, which was: african
wear. One of the highlights
of the meeting was the
installation of the elected
Secretary, Shanna Vasilda
and the elected
Vice President Internal
Melisa Fredericks.
The board also had the
honor to install Fellow
Moreo Cooman and Past
President Dyoma Blokland
as respective: Director of
Motivate and chairman of
the verification committee.
Another highlight of the
evening was the interactive
and interesting motivational
session that was provided
by Alven Roosveld.
JCI Paramaribo Annual Meeting
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4. On February 15, 2020 the board members and directors of JCI Paramaribo held their first board retreat of the year. The main
purpose of this activity is to strengthen the collaboration and cohesion between the members. Senator Robby Rijssel provided a
session to the team on behalf of ‘Kennis-en Expertisecentrum Suriname (KES). The following topics were discussed:
collaboration, weak vs strong team and team roles. The session was very effective and the tools provided, will certainly be applied
well by the board members and directors.
JCI Paramaribo board retreat
JCI Paramaribo orientation night
One of the best ways to
introduce people to the
organization is by organizing
an orientation night. So this
year we decided to organize
our annual orientation night
on February 22, 2020. The
evening started with a
formal part and ended with
some fun games. During the
formal part, Past Officer
Raisa White and Past
President Rôchelle Rijssel
gave a presentation about the
basic principles of the JCI, the
positive impact that the
organization has on the life of
the fellows and within the
community,
the JCI Paramaribo history
and the ‘Be Excellent’ thought.
After the presentation, the
guests were devided in groups
and participated in a fun quiz,
based on the information that
was shared with them earlier
that evening. The guests also got the change to get to know
each other better in an informal and relaxed way, by playing our
all time favorite game: ‘cherades’. It was a great pleasure once
again to get to meet a group of inteliigent and driven young
people.
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5. On Friday February 28,
2020 we celebrated the 59th
birthday of JCI Paramaribo.
Since ‘debate’ is one of the
pillars that we are committed
to as chapter, we decided to
celebrate our birthday with a
debate competition this
year. JCI Paramaribo, JCI
Unify, JCI Nilom and three
Senators of JCI Suriname
competed against each
other. All the statements
were based on the
Sustainable Development
Goals (SDG’s). The main
purpose of this debate was
to capture the arguments,
cited by the debaters in a
document that could
contribute to the
achievement of the SDG’s.
The debate consisted of a
preliminary and a final
round. The preliminary
round consisted of two
debates.The first debate
was between JCI Unify and
JCI Nilom and the second
between JCI Paramaribo
and the Senators.
The winners of the
preliminary round were: JCI
Nilom and the senators, who
competed against each
other in the final round. After
a super exciting final debate,
JCI Nilom was announced
as the winner of the birthday
debate. At the end of the
night we had our traditional
celebration where we cut a
birthday cake and brought
out a toast on continuity of
the chapter.
JCI Paramaribo 59th
birthday celebration
JCI PARAMARIBO
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6. On Saturday, March 07,
2020, a few members of
JCI Paramaribo, in
collaboration with the Anton
de Kom University of
Suriname (Adekus),
provided a Management
training to 55 students. The
Management training, which
is also known as “Mantra”,
has been provided bij JCI
Paramaribo since 2001 to
students of various faculties
who fulfill the role of study
and phase representative. The purpose of this training is to
provide the students with the necessary tools that can
contribute to the efficient and successful performance of their
role. The 55 students who participated in the training are from
the following faculties: Faculty of Technology, Faculty of
Mathematics and Physics, Faculty of Science, Faculty of
Legal Sciences and the Faculty of Medical Sciences. During
the session, JCI Paramaribo trainers: Donaghy Malone,
Rinat Adipi, Ramona Biswana, Derrick Boldewijn and Rôchelle
Rijssel focused on the following topics: Personal Leadership,
budgeting, communication (writing letters), meeting techniques
and negotiation. At the end of the training the
students received a certificate.
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Mantra training Adek

7. On Saturday, March 07,
2020 we gathered together
for our first General Meeting
of the year. As previously
mentioned, the theme of the
board 2020 is: ‘Wakanda’,
which was also expressed
very well by the dresscode
of this meeting. Everyone
who attended the meeting
was dressed in smart casual
with a pangi, which they
gave their own creative twist
to. Some of the business
that was handled of that
evening was: the installation
of Charissa Malone-
Berrenstein as Director of
Fundraising, the
presentation and adoption of
the final report: ‘Birthday
Debate’ and the
presentation and adoption of
the project proposal:
‘Motivate’. Besides all the
business, we had the honor
to have the Executive
Director of Michi Natural
foods N.V, Anoeska
Sahebdien, as special guest
in our midst. She gave a
wonderful and very inspiring
motivational speech, in
which she shared her life
story, her journey to success
and what keeps her
motivated. March 08, marks
the date of ‘International
Women’s Day’. Since the
General Meeting took place
on the eve of this special
day, every woman received
a card from Local President
Rinat Adipi with the following
quotes: “Elegance is when
the inside is as beautiful as
the outside”, “Amazing
things happen when women
help other women!. A very
special and thoughtful gift,
that will remind them
everyday how amazing they
truly are.
JCI Paramaribo General Meeting-01
JCI PARAMARIBO
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LOVE

8. First quarter birthdays
JCI PARAMARIBO
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Fellow
Sabrina Plet-16-01-2020
National Vice President
Rôchelle Rijssel-23-01-2020
Fellow
Momar Pinas-01-02-2020
Past Officer
Ramona Biswana-06-02-2020
Past Officer
Raisa White-15-03-2020
Treasurer
Rolaine Velland-22-03-2020

9. Coronavirus disease
(COVID-19) is an infectious
disease caused by a newly
discovered coronavirus.
Most people infected with
the COVID-19 virus will
experience mild to moderate
respiratory illness and
recover without requiring
special treatment. Older
people, and those with
underlying medical problems
like cardiovascular disease,
diabetes, chronic respiratory
disease, and cancer are
more likely to develop
serious illness. The
COVID-19 virus spreads
primarily through droplets of
saliva or discharge from the
nose when an infected
person coughs or sneezes,
so it’s important that you
also practice respiratory
etiquette (for example, by
coughing into a flexed
elbow). At this time, there
are no specific vaccines or
treatments for COVID-19.
However, there are many
ongoing clinical trials
evaluating potential
treatments. WHO will
continue to provide updated
information as soon as
clinical findings become
available. Reported illnesses
have ranged from mild
symptoms to severe illness
and death for confirmed
coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) cases. These
symptoms may appear 2-14
days after exposure (based
on the incubation period of
MERS-CoV viruses): fever,
cough and shortness of
breath (https://www.who.int/
health-topics/
coronavirus#tab=tab_1).
Prevention and
treatment of the new
coronavirus
Here are some simple steps
to prevent the spread of the
Coronavirus:
• Wash your hands often
with soap and water for at
least 20 seconds. If soap
and water are not availa-
ble, use an alcohol-based
hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes,
nose, and mouth with
unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with
people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are
sick.
• Cover your cough or
sneeze with a tissue,
then throw the tissue in
the trash.
• Clean and disinfect
frequently touched
objects and surfaces.
Health blog
JCI PARAMARIBO
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10. Member of the first
quarter
Our member of the
1st quarter is Past Officer
Raisa White. She is one of
our driven members who we
can always count on. During
the first quarter she
participated actively in all the
activities of JCI Paramaribo and
during the General Meetings. She’s
also a very big help behind the scenes
because she manages the facebook
page and helps to fulfill other public
relations tasks. She’s also our personal
photographer and keeps the
followers of our page up to date with
the pictures of our activities.
Recognition
The people behind the newsletter
Observer of the first quarter
Our observer of the first quarter is Jason Prisirie. During the 1st
quarter Jason was part of the
committee that organized the ‘JCI Paramaribo Bigi Broki Waka & Breakfast’ and was a great help.
He also attended different General Meetings of JCI Paramaribo and of the other chapters.
First quarter highlights:
1.Installation Fundraising Director,
Charissa Malone-Berrenstein
2.Presentation and approval of the
final report: ‘JCI Paramaribo birthday
debate’
3.Installation Director Motivate,
Moreo Cooman and Installation
chairman verification committee,
Dyoma Blokland
4.Presentation and approval of the
project proposal: ‘Motivate’
JCI PARAMARIBO
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Past Officer
Raisa White
Observer
Jason Prisirie
Graphic design by:
Director Moreo Cooman
Tekst and layout by:
Past Officer Raisa White
Be
Excellent