Strengthening Communities: Hands-On Lucas Mill Training Boosts Timber Value Chain in Suriname
From Monday, April 20th to Friday, April 24th, a Lucas Mill training was held at Zanderij 1 as part of the Sustainable Forest Livelihoods (SFL) program. Funded by the European Union (EU) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the SFL program works to support sustainable economic activities and conservation across the region. For this session, twelve dedicated participants traveled from various tribal and indigenous communities, including Bigi Poika, Boto Pasi, Nieuw Aurora, Tjaikonde, Goenzie, and Adawai, to gain the skills necessary for their own wood processing facilities.
Among the participants was Kapitein Harvey Amania, representing the village of Boto Pasi. Kapitein Amania successfully submitted a project proposal to WWF specifically requesting this Lucas Mill training to enhance his community's local timber production. For him, the training is more than just technical; it is a means to create much-needed jobs for young people in the Upper Suriname region who may not have finished school, offering them a professional trade to earn a living.
Over the course of the week, participants learned about the theoretical foundations and the practical realities of timber processing. The hands-on curriculum covered every essential facet of the Lucas Mill:
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Setup and Calibration: Learning the precision required to prepare the mill for high-quality output.
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Safety and Efficiency: Mastering techniques to maximize productivity while maintaining a rigorous focus on workplace safety.
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Maintenance: Ensuring the longevity and reliability of the machinery through proper care and troubleshooting.
The Jan Starke Opleidings en Ontspannings Centrum (JSOOC), a key partner in the SFL project’s timber value chain, coordinated this training. Their role is pivotal in increasing the technical capacity of entrepreneurs in focused areas across Suriname.
Kapitein Amania highlighted that demand for timber is currently high, with local villagers and neighboring communities along the river constantly seeking wood for house construction. His vision for the grant extends beyond simple milling; he plans to use the knowledge gained to expand his business into finished end-products. By utilizing "rest wood" and offcuts that might otherwise go to waste, he intends to train his team to produce value-added items, ensuring every part of the harvested timber is used efficiently.
The week concluded with a formal testing phase and an award ceremony on Friday, April 24, celebrating the hard work and commitment of the beneficiaries. By bringing together entrepreneurs like Kapitein Amania from different regions, the SFL program is helping to build a network of professionals capable of driving the timber value chain forward, fostering a more resilient and skilled sector for the entire Upper Suriname area.
