UN Suriname, Suriname Business and Government launch #TakeTheBallSuriname challenge

The organizations involved, using short videos, explained why the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are important and in what ways the organizations concerned are working to achieve the SDGs.

UN Suriname "kicked off the ball" with the launch of the first #TakeTheBallSuriname video on June 7 , inviting the business community to catch the SDG ball and accept the challenge. Subsequently, the CEOs of the participating companies challenged each other to catch the SDG ball and accept the "challenge." The ball eventually landed with the president of the Association of Surinamese Business (VSB) who also accepted the challenge and forwarded the SDG ball to the President of the Republic of Suriname. President Santokhi concluded the series with an inspiring SDG message from the government to the Surinamese people.

The Sustainable Development Goals, also known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are the 17 world goals to be achieved by 2030. Suriname, as one of 193 countries affiliated with the United Nations, has committed to achieving these goals. The SDGs help us collectively strive for a better world with justice and "inclusive society" in which no one is excluded. In other words, "leave no one behind," or "equal opportunities for all," regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion and status.

The SDGs can be seen as the 17 building blocks needed for sustainable economic, social, societal and environmental development. Achieving the goals is a joint responsibility of both the public and private sectors as well as civil society and a wide range of other stakeholders. The private sector has a great responsibility and duty to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs, which ultimately can only be achieved if we all work on them together.