Welcome to Vrbish #009! In this edition we go deep into the Amazon Rainforest of Suriname to learn how Vrbs means Action. How Vrbs use their passions to create opportunity in their communities.
It's Always Summer in Brazil
Art by Foot
Builder Spotlight: Uhursu Godlieb of Climbing Suriname
It's Always Summer in Brazil
Bob Burnquist, President of Skate Cuida and Skateboard Artists, "delivered an inspiring onboarding talk for our platform, demonstrating how technology is paving the way for the future of our community."
Bob is leading the way and showing others what is possible!
New Vrbs Art
By Foot
As Steve Prefontaine once said, "Some people create with words, or with music, or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run. I like to make people stop and say, 'I've never seen anyone run like that before.' It's more than just a race, it's style. It's doing something better than everyone else. It's being creative."
This week Vrbs has welcomed sugishige to the Local Impact Grant, for "RUN and CLEAN." where he runs and picks up trash in his neighborhood, bettering himself and the community! For Vrbs Run #1 his route made the logo!
By Food
Taroron continues to make whimiscal and fun art with food! I can't quite express why, but I love it!
By Computer
Littlebirth created a fun piece that highlights past Vrbs Auctions and inspires people with a sense of community!
@VrbsDAO We came out of the world of web3 to help people in the real world.
Join our community vrbs.build
26
Builder Spotlight w/ Uhursu Godlieb
“A verb describes an action, and we as Vrbs mean Action. This is what I want Vrbs to mean to my people.”
Action is broad, but it's also personal. Action in the form of doing good takes many shapes and forms. For Uhursu Godlieb, action is now expressed through art and climbing. As a Vrbs Artist Resident he’s improving his neighborhood in Suriname by painting murals, and establishing a climbing program for locals.
Although born in Suriname, Uhursu moved to the US at an early age, spending his youth immersed in American culture where he became enamored with graphic design, painting, and sport. After almost two decades, he packed it all up and moved back to his home country.
My first question; Why?
Sitting in a cozy apartment in New York City, it’s hard for me to fully grasp the weight of this decision. In many parts of Suriname, outside of city centers, communities are small and isolated. Residents often travel exclusively by river to avoid navigating the thick and unforgiving rainforest.
For Uhursu, it wasn’t a mere decision, it was a purpose. In his twenties in America he experienced something of a quarter-life crisis. What to do in life, feeling lost and devoid of meaning. Soul-searching was required…
He realized that he could not have grown without the help of others. That “life is about realizing we are all connected, wanting to help each other, wanting to better our shared world.” So he decided to go home, and build community centers to uplift the people in these remote, sparse, and under-resourced areas.
On a parallel mission, set for a collision course in Suriname, was the organization “Climbing for a Reason,” an activism project aimed at bringing climbing to the world’s most remote and disadvantaged communities, which, however, are fortunate enough to live near rocks perfect for climbers.
Through a mutual friend and veteran Amazon Rainforest area pilot, Matias Fuentes, Uhursu was invited to the Climbing Suriname project, on their expedition to Ebba Top Mountain, where they ultimately set the nation’s first climbing routes. What began as a photography project, with his passion for movement, Uhursu picked up climbing and the “Amusukang,” or “You can do it!” mentality. Through this program climbing has become a community centerpiece, promoting physical activity and fostering personal development.
You can check out an incredible documentary on the program here:
When asked about his plans moving forward with Vrbs, Uhursu’s mission has stayed true; “[Bringing] light to peoples lives, starting in Suriname as the testing ground of what is possible when we unify.”
He plans to transform parks, abandoned spaces, walls, and schools into places of love, connection, and action, through his artwork and climbing.
He continued, “A verb describes action, and we as Vrbs mean Action. This is the anthem. This is what I want Vrbs to mean to my people. This will inspire those who understand, to explore Web3 and the possibilities, because they will feel its presence in their day-to-day lives.”
—
For those that are inspired like I am, you can support Uhursu’s mission through the following:
Following Uhursu on
Twitter: @uhursu
Instagram: @climbingsuriname
Instagram art page: @loveguysu
And starting soon, merch and art sales will go towards the Climbing Suriname program. By buying these art pieces, people not only acquire beautiful artworks for themselves but also directly contribute to empowering youth and making the project a reality.
Stay tuned for updates!
