Suriname boasts one of the last, best, unspoiled places on earth, and Jeff Harbers wanted to help keep it that way. His seed donation created the Central Suriname Nature Preserve, a 4-million-acre conservation corridor of pristine tropical forest, and a legacy of giving that has continued long after his untimely death.
Since its inception, The Harbers Family Foundation has looked for creative and meaningful ways to make life better for people and for our planet. One way we do this is to spread the word – through powerful visual narratives – about the great work so many people are already doing. But although visual storytelling is in our DNA, we’ve always done more than that.
We continue to conserve natural habitats, most recently setting up the preservation of the 17.8-million-acre Southern Suriname Conservation Corridor, a critical biodiverse ecosystem that helps sustain 15% of the world’s fresh water supply.
We’ve also built dormitories for students in Africa, underwritten curriculum that helps communities transform from the inside out, sponsored photography exhibits, and supplied eyeglasses to people in developing countries. We’ve provided project support for missionaries and teachers and photographers and artists. We even published a children’s book, the proceeds from which help underwrite the preservation and restoration of the famous Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland.
All this to say, we have range. We believe the words in the gospel of St. Luke, “to whom much has been given, much will be demanded,” so we’re committed to using our resources to help where we can, whether it’s promoting robust human economies or preserving thriving natural ecologies. And of course, we’ll also continue to tell the stories we hope will inspire other people to do the same.
SURINAME
Although Suriname is South America’s smallest country, it is one of the world’s greenest. In partnership with Conservation International, the Harbers Family Foundation has invested in Suriname, helping to conserve the pristine forests that ensure climate resilience, fresh water security and habitats for thousands of unique species. Indigenous Surinamese (top) act as stewards of the land to protect natural resources and to make sure there’s always a home for amphibians like this little fellow (above).
HEIFER PERU
We are passionate about helping women and girls in developing countries, and have worked alongside organizations like Heifer Peru to make their lives better. Sofia Arivilca (above) was homeless for most of her 64 years but with the assistance of Heifer Peru, she received the tools she needed to build her first real home. She has gone from being homeless to being a leader among women in her community.
ROSSLYN CHAPEL
Beautiful and historic Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland has survived thousands of winters (top), but temperature fluctuation and dampness have taken their toll on the stone walls and carvings within. In the ongoing effort to maintain and restore the chapel, Foundation founder Renee Harbers suggested creating a children’s book to tell the story of the chapel and help underwrite its preservation. And so we did. The result, illustrated by Rosie Wellesley, and written by Helen, Countess of Rosslyn (above) is a delightful tale of how William, a cat who fancies himself as the guardian of the chapel, saves the day.
RESTORING VISION
People the world over agree: it’s no fun getting older. Things start to hurt for no reason and you realize that you can’t hear or see as clearly as you once could. For people in developed countries, help may be only as far away as the local drug store, but for people in developing countries, reading the “fine print” can be much more difficult. So, when we work with organizations like Restoring Vision to provide something as simple, but life-changing, as reading glasses, life suddenly comes into focus.
GASHORA GIRLS
We believe education changes lives and our passion for educating girls spans both years and continents. One of our most cherished relationships is with the Rwanda Girls Initiative, where we have invested in – and followed on film – the lives of a remarkable group of girls at a remarkable institution: The Gashora Girls Academy. Among the brightest students in the world, Gashora’s girls (above) are preparing, both at the academy and now at prestigious colleges and universities, to become the leaders of tomorrow in a country on the rise.
