Longitude

IoTlab Suriname Foundation is a non-profit organization in Suriname that aims to help IT enthusiasts build their skills and experience in the tech industry. Since 2013, the organization has been operating in the tech innovation landscape of Suriname and has created and implemented numerous gamified tech events that have been enjoyed by over a thousand tech students and enthusiasts. The participants receive an immersion experience towards innovation, and several alumni have found employment in the IT space or have started their own technology businesses.

IoTLab Suriname is supported by various educational institutions, such as the University of Suriname (Adek) and the Polytechnic College (PTC), which play a structural part in the programming and credit students for participation in the programs with university credits. The organization has initiated several successful spin-offs in the tech education sector, such as the IoT Things Network ThingsCore and the Codettes Girls in ICT Foundation.

The vision of IoTLab is to become a pivotal player in the new era of innovation, development, and product-to-market acceleration by attaining the full potential of IT in Suriname and the Caricom region. The mission of IoTLab is to help IT enthusiasts by providing them with the ability and possibility to easily share knowledge with experienced peers through a series of gamified tech events and activities.

The IoTLab Space is a critical part of the organization’s growth strategy. It offers space, tools, and expertise to create market-ready prototypes from the outputs of the gamified tech events using digital manufacturing. The IoTLab is basically a small FabLab, and the organization has trained and certified staff for doing the complete design cycle on IoT-type projects.

IoTLab offers several projects that help IT enthusiasts develop their skills and experience in the tech industry. The projects include the yearly Coding Hackathon, Robotics Courses (dormant), Internet of Things Challenge, Community LpWAN network & Smart Cities initiative, Empowering, skilling & Inclusion 4 women, and Creativity hub – IoT development – FabLAB.

One of the latest projects developed by IoTLab is the IoT-Lab Cloud for Education project, which facilitates education providers through microservices, providing e-learning initiatives and platforms. The organization aims to become a pivotal organization for teaching and development in Suriname.

In summary, IoTLab Suriname is an innovative and impactful non-profit organization that aims to build skills and experience for the next generation of techies in Suriname and the Caricom region. Through their gamified tech events, IoT Lab Space, and various projects, IoTLab is making significant contributions to the development of the tech industry and creating opportunities for IT enthusiasts to succeed.

The Young Help Suriname (YHS) STEM & Robotics Project is designed to inspire and equip young people in Suriname with the skills and mindset they need to thrive in the rapidly-evolving global landscape. YHS believes that technology is a critical enabler of development and that young STEM minds are the shapers of a sustainable future. As such, the project aims to empower young people through capacity building, gamification, cross-border teamwork, and (peer-to-peer) mentorship.

One key component of the project is the annual recruitment and training of the national Suriname Robotics Team, which competes in the International FIRST Global Olympic Style Robotics Challenge. This event not only serves as a competition but also provides an opportunity for young STEM-interested minds from more than 150 countries to build collaboration and friendship. YHS sees this as a critical resource for Suriname, as it enables the country to contribute its talent to the global platform and emerge as a future leader in STEM and innovation.

In addition to the robotics team, YHS coordinates and trains students in STEM and robotics for local community projects that support Sustainable Development Goals. The project also encourages entrepreneurship among young minds by empowering them with knowledge, guidance, and inspirational experiences. Through community projects and partnerships, YHS aims to build confidence and enable the next generation of entrepreneurs.

YHS also facilitates international exchange opportunities for Surinamese citizens and provides institutional support to local community organizations with project planning and guidance for implementing their own STEM projects with success. The project offers logistical services for workshops and various events and provides training in various digital skills.

Overall, the YHS STEM & Robotics Project is designed to inspire passion for developing skills of the future through practical education in STEM and robotics, exposure to global opportunities, and community projects that support Sustainable Development Goals. The project aims to equip young people with the necessary skills to thrive in the ever-evolving global landscape and become the next generation of tech professionals.

The train{ED} Suriname Tech Talent Initiative is a non-profit project aimed at providing opportunities for diverse and determined individuals in Suriname to pursue careers in the tech industry. Our focus is on helping individuals gain skills in, among others, the Salesforce and Amazon ecosystems, two of the most in-demand areas of the tech industry.

train{ED} offer a learning community and learning pathway to new tech skills. Our dedicated trainers and mentors work closely with individuals to help them acquire the necessary skills to succeed in the tech industry and build relationships that lead to real job opportunities.

Our goal is to provide individuals with the tools and resources they need to break into the tech industry and achieve long-term success. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to pursue a career in tech, regardless of their background or prior experience.

Through our non-profit project, we hope to help diversify the tech industry by providing access to training and job opportunities to underrepresented groups in Suriname. Our mission is to create a more inclusive and equitable tech industry, one individual at a time.

Codettes is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering girls and young women in the field of technology and innovation! Our goal is to raise awareness about the possibilities and opportunities that the technology sector offers to women and to provide them with the necessary education, training, and support to become successful technologists and creators.

To achieve our mission, Codettes organizes Networking Events, Hackathons, Bootcamps, and Training that provide young women with hands-on experiences in the technology industry. Our Bootcamp and Inno Starter Students programs are designed to help participants develop their technical skills, learn new tools and technologies, and work on innovative projects that have the potential to impact their communities positively.

At Codettes, we believe that creating a diverse and inclusive technology sector is crucial to driving innovation and economic growth. We work to stimulate and develop the technology sector locally and regionally through the Codettes initiative, which brings together industry leaders, educators, and policymakers to collaborate on initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion in the IT industry.

Our team is always passionate about generating new ideas and developing innovative solutions that help to address the challenges facing women in the technology industry. Through our programs and initiatives, we aim to inspire and empower the next generation of technologists, creators, and leaders and to build a more diverse, inclusive, and thriving technology sector in Suriname and the region for all.