2020

The Board

Local President

Sigourney Maatstap: A Transformational Journey from the background to leadership

In 2020, Sigourney Maatstap took on a role she never imagined herself stepping into: Local President of JCI Urban. Describing the experience as “challenging, but truly educational,” she reflects on a year that pushed her boundaries, built her confidence, and helped shape her into a capable and compassionate leader.

What makes Sigourney’s journey especially inspiring is the path she took to get there. “I started as a member, then became a director, and eventually Local President. I never thought I’d ever be on the board,” she shares. But growth has a way of finding those who are open to it. “I grew from being that girl who always wanted to stay in the background, to a woman who now takes the lead.”

One of the most memorable and emotional moments of her journey was the very beginning of her presidency. “When I sat in that chair and felt the weight of the President’s chain around my neck… what an honor that was,” she recalls. It was more than a symbolic gesture—it marked the beginning of a new chapter of self-discovery and empowerment.

Her time in JCI Urban, especially in a leadership role, gave her the tools to thrive under pressure, make difficult decisions, and guide others with confidence. It wasn’t just about leading—it was about becoming.

To the next wave of changemakers and dreamers joining JCI Urban, Sigourney offers a simple but powerful message:
“With a positive mindset, you can achieve anything—even the impossible.”

Nicole Pawirodirjo
Local Secretary

Rayen Bhajan
Local Treasurer

Raynesh Rewat
Local Vice President

The Theme

Continuing its efforts to refocus and evolve at the local level, JCI Urban embraced the new theme: "Building Bridges Towards All Sectors of Society by Inspiring Youth and Leaders for Positive Change." This theme underscored the chapter’s commitment to uniting diverse sectors of society through youth empowerment and purpose-driven leadership.

Building on its earlier foundation of "Inspire youth. Inspire leaders. Inspire change," JCI Urban expanded its message to "Join the Movement. Join JCI Urban."—a clear call to action aimed at encouraging membership growth and deeper engagement in leadership development.

Throughout the year, all initiatives—from projects to general meetings—were intentionally aligned with the updated theme. These activities were designed to foster both individual growth and collective leadership capacity, empowering members to become changemakers who build bridges within their communities and across societal sectors.

Popular Projects

JCI Urban Orientation Night

On February 22, 2020, JCI Urban proudly hosted its Orientation Night, bringing together a group of equally motivated and purpose-driven young individuals, all eager to create positive change in their communities. It was a true pleasure to open the doors of the Urban home to such inspiring energy and shared vision.

During the evening, we officially welcomed six new members—each having successfully completed the very first Stairway to Be Outstanding program, which was launched in 2019. Their investment of time, energy, and a positive mindset reflects their dedication to personal growth and community impact.

We are proud to have these individuals join our movement and look forward to the contributions they will make as part of JCI Urban. Together, let us continue to Build Bridges towards all Sectors of Society by Inspiring Youth to become Leaders for Positive Change!

Membership & Extensive Drive training

COVID-19, nor the lockdown, could stop us from hosting the JCI Urban Online Membership & Extension (M&E) Drive Training. From May 15 to May 31, six enthusiastic and active observers took part in the training and successfully completed the program.

They took their first step toward joining the leading global network of young active citizens! These participants were part of the group of seven observers who joined as a result of the Orientation Night held in February 2020.

New member installation

Following the M&E Drive Training held in May, JCI Urban proudly welcomed seven new members to the family on Friday, October 16, 2020.

It was a true pleasure to officially induct these seven passionate individuals, each of whom has already shown commitment through their time, energy, and positive attitude. As they embark on their JCI journey, we look forward to seeing them grow, lead, and contribute to impactful change within our communities. Welcome, new Urbanites!

Project: Road 2 More Active Citizens 2 Create an Impact

With the goal of highlighting and celebrating local entrepreneurship in the districts of Wanica and Para, JCI Urban launched the Road 2 More Active Citizens 2 Create an Impact project. This initiative aimed to inspire youth and young professionals by showcasing the journeys of successful local entrepreneurs who have made a tangible impact in their communities.

The project featured a series of three engaging online sessions where participants had the opportunity to hear powerful stories of resilience, innovation, and leadership:

October 31, 2020 – Raveen Ramtahalsing, CEO of Spirits Grunt2 NV
November 7, 2020 – Maurino Pansa, CEO of Pansa Group NV
November 16, 2020 – Yvonne Mohabir, CEO of Asticon NV

Each session not only highlighted the entrepreneurial path of these leaders but also underscored their role as active citizens driving positive change in Suriname.

Other Highlights

Motivational Moments with Marvin

JCI Urban was deeply honored to be the first host of Motivational Moments with Marvin on January 13, 2020—an inspiring and empowering way to kick off the new year.

The session invited attendees to reflect on their personal growth and purpose. Participants were encouraged to consider the lessons behind life’s challenges and to let go of lingering negativity. Key questions sparked self-reflection: What are you grateful for? What situations do you need to release? Who truly deserves your time? What roles are you currently fulfilling, and which ones do you still aspire to take on?

At the heart of the event was a powerful commitment: a promise to oneself to actively pursue a better life, to transform each challenge into a lesson, and to live with intention and gratitude. The message was clear—evaluate your habits daily, embrace love, health, and joy, and remember: happiness is a choice, and you deserve it.

Keynote: Marvin Ramtahalsing

On February 10, 2020, JCI Urban held a memorable General Meeting featuring a special guest: Marvin Ramtahalsing, a true Active Citizen and a long-time friend of JCI Urban.

We were honored to hear his inspiring journey as an entrepreneur, filled with valuable insights, real challenges, and powerful lessons. His passion, drive, and commitment to positive change resonated deeply with everyone present. Marvin’s story reminded us of the importance of perseverance, purpose, and community impact — the very values that define the JCI movement.

Keynote: Natasha Fong Poen

On May 14, 2020, JCI Urban held its General Meeting online, bringing members together virtually for an inspiring and insightful session. We had the honor of welcoming Natasha Fong Poen, Marketing and Communication Manager at Fernandes Bakkerij, as our guest speaker.

Natasha shared her personal and professional journey, highlighting the power of embracing non-linear paths to success. Her message resonated deeply: "Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others."

Her story reminded us that leadership is not a destination, but a continuous journey of personal development and empowerment of those around us. The session left us inspired and motivated to build our own leadership stories while uplifting others along the way.

Keynote: Timothy Mendonça

On Monday, June 15, 2020, JCI Urban hosted a Special Online Meeting featuring our guest and impact speaker, Timothy Mendonça, Acting CEO of N.V. Luchthavenbeheer. He shared his personal journey on self-leadership during times of crisis. It was an honor to have him join us and share his insights with the JCI Urban community.

"Leadership is not about being in charge. Leadership is about taking care of those in charge."

– Simon Sinek

Thank you, Timothy, for being our impact speaker. You are truly a leader who eats last.

JCI Networking Training

On Friday, July 24, 2020, JCI Urban hosted a JCI Networking Training session led by Senator Rajiv Hieralal.

The training focused on the importance of building meaningful connections, with a key takeaway being:

"Networking is a two-way street — it’s about generating connection, goodwill, and understanding why people will want to help you."

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse

2020

The Board

Local President

The Theme