Village Commerce

First Power Partners Village Commerce model is taking shape in five indigenous communities in rural Suriname.Each village will be powered with 24/7 renewable power for the villagers, a 25 student internet and ICT enabled classroom and 60 storefronts available to local entrepreneurs and existing businesses. New eCommerce opportunities are also emerging through the availability of continuous satellite internet service. All these villages are currently powered by diesel generators that operate 5-7 hours per day and heavily subsidized by the Suriname government Department of Natural Resources.

As people diversify their businesses by adding other sources of income to farming they create opportunities for . Development programs can help households add non-farming activities to enhance their livelihoods. In time, people who were once farmers can specialize in new activities. They should, however, keep on farming to hedge against risks in their new businesses.