Our History

The Foundation for Information  and Development (SWI) was established by notary act in 1977 in Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname. Among the founders was the late Dr. Frank Martinus Arion, a well known novel writer from the Dutch Antilles. From the inception, there has been a strong emphasis on sustainability and developing the own potential in the areas of  culture, nature, health, traditional peoples, economy and politics.

From the outset it has been important to bridge the information gap on development and to produce relevant information on development. In addition to policy and consultancy reports SWI published over 60 books and journal editions of SWI Forum.

SWI distinguishes itself through a national and international focus on producing  information on culture, economy, health, history and politics from a sustainability perspective. We have committed ourselves to strengthening our position and disseminate our products in South America, for the benefit of nature and the wider society.

SWI is one of the lead organizations within the “Amazon Coalition Suriname,” which is in the process of designing a development strategy “Living in harmony with nature in Suriname” as an alternative to the extractive strategy.  The ‘Amazon Coalition Suriname’ participated in the ‘Diálogos Amazônicos’ an international event for conservation and development of the Amazon, held Aug. 4-6, 2023 in Belém, Brazil.

Click here to Read
Declaration of the Amazon coalition Suriname

Board Members

SWI is governed by the board

Jack Menke

Chairperson

Lilian Tangali

Secretary

Wonnie Boedhoe

Treasurer

Jerome Egger

Member

Martin Sastrosentono

Member

Heidi Wirjosentono

Member

The Foundation for Research and Information (SWI) promotes, produces and disseminates development oriented information. SWI distinguishes itself through a national, regional and international focus on information in various areas of culture, economy, health and politics from a sustainability perspective. We have committed ourselves to strengthening our position in South America and share our products in the region, for the benefit of the wider society.

More From Our History

AID AND DEPENDENCE

The Case of Suriname. A study in Bilateral Aid Relations (Baijah Mhango 1984)

Baijah Mhango analyses the development cooperation between Suriname and Holland with focus on the 3.5 billion Dutch guilders of aid – the golden handshake, that was agreed upon Suriname’s independence in 1975. The book examines the backgrounds of Dutch aid, the relations between the Holland and Suriname, the development plans, the institutional aspects and the macro-economic context. The author concludes that the Dutch aid had a negative impact, rather than contributing to sustainability and self-reliance of the Surinamese economy.

Book Presentation: AID AND DEPENDENCE
The Case of Suriname. A study in Bilateral Aid Relations (Baijah Mhango 1984),
pand Cornelis Jongbawstraaat 19, Paramaribo, Suriname

Sita Kishna and Jack Menke handing over to John Krishnadath the book: AID AND DEPENDENCE
The Case of Suriname. A study in Bilateral Aid Relations (Baijah Mhango 1984)

Directeur Ministerie van Onderwijs dhr. Frank Antonius bij boekpresentatie:
Prins Awin en de twee Leeuwewelpjes en andere verhalen (Sita Kishna 1985),
pand Cornelis Jongbawstraat 19, Paramaribo, Suriname

Prins Awin en de twee leeuwewelpjes en andere verhalen (Dutch)

Illustrations: Soeki Irodikromo
Kishna, Sita (1985) (Dutch and Sarnami)

Prince Awin and the two lion cubs and other stories contains three folk tales from the East Indian tradition, stories about animals. The collection bears the title of the first story. Some stories are part of the rich heritage of indentured workers who came from India to Suriname in the period 1873-1917. The book is written in Sarnami (Surinamese-Hindi) with a parallel Dutch translation. This unique collection of folktales is an enrichment of the oral tradition in Suriname.

Book Presentation In Theater Unique

Een van de oprichters van SWI en eerste voorzitter van de Stichting, Frank Martinus Arion (wijlen).
Boekpresentatie theather Unique, Frederik Derbystraat 23-25, Paramaribo, Suriname

Joop Vernooij (wijlen) achter microfoon, produceerde 4 SWI publicaties / redactielid SWI Forum.
Boekpresentatie in theater Unique, Frederik Derbystraat 23-25, Paramaribo, Suriname

Actie Grondenrechten Suriname

(Stichting Wetenschappelijke Informatie) Joop Vernooij, 1988

Land rights action Suriname was carried out From 1978 to 1980 by three organizations of traditional peoples in Suriname: The Washabo / Apoera Land Commission; the Regional Committee Beneden Marowijne; and the Tangiba association of Santigron. The trigger for these actions was the unfair development policy that did not take into account the land rights of the Indigenous and Maroon peoples in the interior of Suriname. This publication is important for its historical value and the criticism of large-scale development projects in the interior, that do not include sustainability and the interests of traditional peoples.

Sfeerbeelden SWI lezingen cyclus

Presentatie Historicus Roy Mac Donald (wijlen), pand Cornelis Jongbawstraat 19, Paramaribo, Suriname

Presentatie Ruben Kalpoe (wijlen), pand Cornelis Jongbawstraat 19, Paramaribo, Suriname

Mevr. Alexander directrice Cultuur en Joop vernooij (wijlen), Paramaribo, Suriname

Guyana – Suriname vriendschapsvereniging,
pand Cornelis Jongbawstraat 19, Paramaribo, Suriname