It is incredible to think that it’s been 20 years since it all started with a baby sloth called Loesje (Lucia). What started as a deed of compassion for an orphan three-fingered sloth grew into an adventure that was only possible because of you. When I say you, I am referring to all the volunteers that helped from the beginning, my family and friends who stood by me, the encouraging bystanders, and the faraway donors and organizations that became involved in 20 years of advocating, and lobbying on behalf of the many voiceless creatures and the environments they depend on.
As I am writing this, I am choosing my words carefully because each and every one of you played an important role in Green Hertiage Fund Suriname’s journey toward maturity. But I must take a moment to mention my board members: Ivette Adams, Monique Nouh Chaia, Kurt Burkhard, and Luzmila Samson. They have tirelessly supported my decisions, even when they didn’t always serve the financial stability of the GHFS, because above all the welfare and well- being of the animals came first. In my opinion, they, and former board member Hortence Taylor, all deserve a Sloth Award. Still, since they are the ones to approve such nominations, I have to do it like this. For sure, we will mark their names in our Sloth Hall of Fame in the Xenarthra Rehabilitation Center. I am also indebted to our sister foundation in the Netherlands for their support, from the founding members to the current board, for staying the course and helping us out whenever there is a need, urgent or otherwise. You also deserve a Sloth Award!
A special word of appreciation goes to our German partner Weltierschutzgesellschaft i.o. You have stood by us to ensure that we can continue our work at the Xenarthra Rehabilitation Center.
Then there are the many people in the wings, the silent workers, the invisible volunteers, the interns, all having an impact on the work of our foundation. Whether it was by nominating me for the CNN Heroes Award in 2015, the Vedanta Award in 2017 (Jnan Adhin Foundation), the Honorary Order of the Yellow Star in 2018 (Government of Suriname), the Legion d’Honneur in 2022 (Government of France), or as a NAKS Icon in 2023 (Stichting NAKS), you all made a difference.
My dear fellow conservationists, scientists, and activists, thank you for helping support our mission us, for standing with us, and for helping to ensure our work contributes meaningfully towards keeping our planet a livable/healthy home. A place in which all creatures count, where there is equity and we recognize that we are all connected and must live in harmony with each one other. To the other environmental organizations, local, regional, and international, I say thank you for supporting our work, for trusting us to implement projects, and technical assistance where it was needed.
To the members of the general public, the communities where we work, I thank you for following and supporting our work. I thank you for welcoming us in your communities, sharing your thoughts and for telling us what types of actions you want to see. I will never forget the hugI got from an older lady on the stairs of the bank, she simply wanted to thank me for the work we are doing and it’s a moment that stayed with me.
The media, photographers, videographers, and filmmakers who have highlighted our work, we thank you graciously and with warm appreciation for shining a light on our story and the plight of the animals we care for across many local, regional, and international platforms. You made a unique part of Suriname has gained recognition in forums around the world.
We have collaborated with many different companies whose services have been essential to making our work possible. We thank you all, and look forward to many more years of partnership and support.
There can be no sustainability without succession and a next generation. I am genuinely proud of my young colleagues, whom I trust completely to continue our work for at least another 20 years. They have grown into their roles, and I can see how they are now embodying the values that we hold dear at GHFS. And it is my responsibility to hand over a sustainable organization. We are now on our path of ensuring that.
So, thank you, gran tangi, dank jullie! We immensely appreciate your support for the work of
GHFS in the past 20 years, and count on you for the next 20 years.
Nederlands 
English