DONATE NOW ❤️PO
Position Open
Executive Director
Recruiting
The Foundation is prayerfully identifying an Executive Director to steward daily operations, program delivery, and staff development across Suriname and the United States.
Leadership & Governance
The people entrusted with this work
Founder, board, advisors, and volunteers united in long-term service to the underserved communities throughout Suriname.
Founder & President
Kamina Samantha Hydara
Kamina Samantha Hydara founded Stichting Rijakannah Foundation to walk with the underserved communities throughout Suriname — not as visitors, but as long-term partners rooted in faith, dignity, and love.
Vision
Thriving communities throughout Suriname where children learn in dignified classrooms, mothers deliver safely, elders age with honor, and community culture flourishes.
Leadership Philosophy
Lead by listening. The community names the need; the Foundation answers with steady presence. Transparency is a discipline, not a slogan. The smallest gift and the largest are stewarded with the same care.
Professional Background
Two decades of humanitarian, health, and community-development leadership across Suriname and the United States — anchored by faith and a lifelong commitment to communities throughout Suriname.
Executive Leadership
A team being built with intention
As the Foundation grows, we are prayerfully assembling an executive team to steward operations, programs, and partnerships across Suriname and the United States.
PO
Position Open
Director of Operations — Suriname
Recruiting
Will oversee warehouse logistics, community coordination, and on-the-ground project implementation in Paramaribo and with partner communities throughout Suriname.
PO
Position Open
Director of Development — United States
Recruiting
Will lead donor relations, church and corporate partnerships, and DMV-area supply drives in support of the 15-Barrel Project and beyond.
Board of Directors
Governance rooted in accountability
Our board holds fiduciary responsibility for the Foundation and safeguards the mission on behalf of every donor, volunteer, and community we serve.
Kamina Samantha Hydara
Founder, President & Board Chair
Founder and President of Stichting Rijakannah Foundation. Kamina anchors the board with two decades of humanitarian, health, and community-development leadership across Suriname and the United States.
SR
Seat Reserved
Vice Chair
To be seated
Reserved for a Surinamese community leader with governance experience to co-lead the board and represent community voice at the highest level.
SR
Seat Reserved
Treasurer
To be seated
Reserved for a certified accountant or finance professional to oversee financial stewardship, audits, and reporting.
SR
Seat Reserved
Secretary
To be seated
Reserved for a governance professional to maintain minutes, bylaws, and compliance with Surinamese Stichting regulations.
SR
Seat Reserved
Board Member — Programs
To be seated
Reserved for a public-health, education, or community-development leader to advise program strategy across the communities throughout Suriname.
SR
Seat Reserved
Board Member — Legal & Compliance
To be seated
Reserved for legal counsel with Surinamese nonprofit and international shipping expertise.
International Advisors
Wisdom from around the world
Advisors bring subject-matter expertise without governance authority — helping the Foundation serve the communities more skillfully.
AS
Advisor Seat
Public Health — Suriname
Invited
Advising medical outreach, mobile clinics, and maternal-child health protocols for communities with limited access to care.
AS
Advisor Seat
Logistics & International Shipping
Invited
Advising 15-Barrel Project shipping lanes, customs clearance, and warehouse operations in Paramaribo.
AS
Advisor Seat
Faith-Based Partnerships
Invited
Advising church-network engagement in the DMV region and mission trip coordination.
AS
Advisor Seat
Community Cultural Liaison
Invited
Advising respectful engagement with communities throughout Suriname and safeguarding cultural heritage.
Community Advisory Council
Guided by community voices.
Communities we serve throughout Suriname will name representatives to the Council. This is how we make sure programs are shaped by the people they serve — never imposed.
Council seats are being formalized in coordination with community leadership throughout Suriname.
Volunteers
The heart of the Foundation
Individuals, churches, schools, universities, healthcare professionals, corporations, and community organizations — both in Suriname and among supporters abroad — help make this work possible.
In Suriname
Community coordinators, warehouse teams in Paramaribo, medical outreach volunteers, teachers, and cultural liaisons.
Supporters Abroad
Founder-coordinated supply drives, church partners, and corporate donation contacts helping gather goods for shipment to Suriname.
Future International
As formal international partnerships are established, we will expand our volunteer network across additional regions.
Organizational Structure
How we are organized
A simple structure that keeps decisions close to the community and accountability close to the donor.
Board of Directors
Sets strategic direction, approves the annual budget, holds fiduciary responsibility, and appoints the Executive Director.
Founder & President
Provides vision, external representation, founder-led fundraising, and chairs the board.
Executive Leadership
Executive Director and program directors carry out day-to-day operations across Suriname and the United States.
Program Teams
Healthcare, education, food security, water, agriculture, women's empowerment, youth, disaster relief, and elder care leads.
Community Advisory Council
One representative from each partner community ensures programs remain community-led and culturally grounded.
Volunteers & Partner Network
Churches, schools, universities, healthcare professionals, corporations, and community organizations across Suriname and the DMV region.
Governance Principles
The commitments that guide the board
Community-Led Decision Making
Community voices shape every program before it launches. Nothing about the communities is decided without the communities.
Financial Stewardship
Every dollar and every barrel is tracked from donor to destination and published in our transparency reports.
Board Independence
A majority of board members are independent of paid staff and are not related to the founder.
Long-Term Commitment
We serve the communities throughout Suriname for the long haul — measured in decades, not funding cycles.
Cultural Respect
We honor the traditions, languages, and leadership structures of communities throughout Suriname in everything we do.
Faith-Rooted Service
Rooted in Christian compassion, welcoming all who wish to serve regardless of background.
Code of Ethics
How we behave, everywhere we serve
- 1
We tell the truth about what we have done, what we are doing, and what we hope to do — and we clearly label the difference.
- 2
We do not pay bribes, kickbacks, or facilitation payments anywhere we operate.
- 3
We protect the dignity, images, and stories of the people we serve; consent comes before content.
- 4
We report suspected fraud, abuse, or safeguarding concerns to the board and cooperate fully with any investigation.
- 5
We keep donor information confidential and never sell or share it.
Conflict of Interest Policy
Protecting the mission from private gain
- 1
Every board member, officer, and key volunteer signs an annual conflict-of-interest disclosure.
- 2
Any material interest in a transaction is disclosed before discussion and recused from the vote.
- 3
Related-party transactions require independent board approval and are disclosed in our annual report.
- 4
No board member, staff member, or their family may personally profit from Foundation funds or in-kind gifts.
Leadership Commitment
"We will steward this work with the same care we ask our donors to trust us with."
Every leader, board member, advisor, and volunteer of Stichting Rijakannah Foundation commits to serve with integrity, to honor community voice, to protect the vulnerable, and to keep our promises to the communities throughout Suriname — for as long as it takes.
Contact the Board
Reach the leadership team directly.
Governance, board matters, media, advisory interest, or a message for the Founder — send it here and the appropriate leader will respond.