PARAMARIBO – The new police unit that was recently established namely ‘Landlopersbrigade’ has reportedly gotten seven homeless people off the streets in association with Stichting 1 voor 12.
The operation is part of a large scale pilot project that is aimed at resocializing people who live in the streets so that they can once again stand on their own feet. Louis Vismale, chairman of stichting 1 voor 12, pointed out that the project is successful but that the lack of funds is currently the biggest challenge. He therefore urged the private sector to support this initiative by donating money, clothes, shows and other essentials. In the past couple of days several people who have lived on the streets for quite a while were approached and asked if they wanted to be included in the project voluntarily. Before they could be included they had to sign a form which clearly states that they are willing to cooperate. The volunteers were then given a haircut, a clean shave, a bath and new clothes.
Vismale has already contributed more than SRD 10,000 to buy clothes and other things.
“We are grateful for the initiative of Omar Terborg who not only established the project but who also got Stichting 1 voor 12 to join the project. He also provided transport so that the people could be transported safely,” said Vismale. The organizations behind the project do not only focus on giving the volunteers a makeover but they also focus on tracking down the relatives of the volunteers. When the relatives are willing to cooperate, the volunteers are brought back to their domestic surroundings.
When this option is not available the volunteers are accommodated at the shelter located at Hanover. But the shelter reportedly lacks the funds to accommodate a huge number of people. The shelter is expected to be fully operational by the middle of July. Until that time temporary solutions are sought for people who cannot stay with their relatives. The initiative is supported by the Ministries of Justice and Police (Juspol), Social Affairs and Housing (Sozavo) and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labor (VWA). The National Army will also support this project in the form of logistics. The ‘Landlopersbrigade’ emphasized that “this is just the beginning of a bigger plan.”
