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The community garden as a bridge between French Guiana and Suriname

CEDEFOG - Center for the Discovery of the Guianese Forest

CEDEFOG is a non-profit organization dedicated to discovering the Guianese forest, established in Kourou in 2020. Its mission is to raise awareness and appreciation of French Guiana's forest ecosystems and to promote environmental education. To this end, it organizes events, scientific workshops, themed nature outings, educational projects, training in leading activities, team building and cohesion activities, group visits, and support for scientific missions. The organization primarily operates within French Guiana and develops projects at the national, regional (Guiana Shield and Caribbean), and international levels.

Context

Solidarity School Garden

Founded in Kourou in 2020, the CEDEFOG association works towards an ecological and socially responsible transition through sustainable agriculture. In a context where community gardens remain relatively unknown in Suriname and French Guiana, the Solidarity School Garden project, in partnership with the NGO SUWAMA, is relaunching a community-based educational garden program. By raising awareness among institutions, facilitators, and professionals about this collective practice, it is initiating a regional dynamic that combines agroforestry, education, and social connection.

Country: Suriname
Location: Guiana Shield, Marowijne District
Sector of intervention:
Agriculture, Food Sovereignty
Guild Endowment: €32,758
Project cost: €40,948
Project sponsor: CEDEFOG

Funder(s):
• Coreom
• La Guilde
• The Fondation de France

Project objectives

Supporting the revival of a community garden in Suriname
Transmitting technical skills in agroforestry and eco-citizenship
Promoting cultural and intergenerational diversity through educational gardening

Activities

Technical support to the NGO SUWAMA
Group workshops in Suriname: workshops, visits and meetings
Creation of a shared garden with the eco-delegates of the Holder school in Cayenne and exchanges with schoolchildren from Suriname

Direct beneficiaries

Young people and educational partners from French Guiana and Suriname involved in the creation of educational and socio-professional community gardens focused on plants, and committed to the transmission of agroecological knowledge

Expected results

Empowered, trained young people involved in regional dynamics
Sustainable strengthening of the cross-border partnership between CEDEFOG and the NGO SUWAMA
An educational and community garden created at Holder College

A dual support and funding mechanism for overseas civil society organizations, the CORÉOM program – Overseas Regional Cooperation – encourages regional and international cooperation dynamics among associations based in Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Mayotte, and Réunion. Financially supported by the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Fondation de France, CORÉOM is implemented by La Guilde, with a set of territorial networks and relay partners in the five territories.