Follow us on:

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

Archive -Seychelles

Eight Seychellois to study in China |29 August 2014

Eight Seychellois students who have been successful in obtaining scholarships to study in the People’s Republic of China received their travel documents yesterday.

It was Chinese ambassador Shi Zhongjun who gave them their documents in a ceremony held at the Agency for National Human Resource Development (ANHRD) headquarters at Le Chantier Mall.

The ceremony was also attended by the chief executive of ANHRD Margaret Pillay; counselor Zhang Xiangyang, chargé d’affaire in the embassy of the People’s Republic of China; and parents of the students.

China and Seychelles enjoy a long and strong bilateral link, as a result of which a good number of Seychellois students benefit from scholarships offered by the Chinese government every year.

Ambassador Shi said helping African countries, including Seychelles, develop their human resources is one important foreign concept of China.

Referring to the age-old adage which says “It is more important to teach a man to fish than to give a man a fish”, the ambassador said it is the principle of the Chinese government to not only help African countries build infrastructure like schools, hospitals etc.., but also help them develop their own people and have their own people build their own country.

“Every year we provide hundreds of government scholarships to Africans. For Seychelles every year we provide around ten and there are already around thirty Seychellois students in China,” Ambassador Shi noted.

He urged the students to make full use of their time there to learn more about China, not only what they are learning in schools but also its culture as he says his country has a long and rich history and culture.

He expressed his wish that the students can adapt to life in China.

The ambassador said as Seychelles becomes more and more popular and known in China, the students can also become ambassadors between the two countries.

Mrs Pillay said the Seychelles government feels much gratitude towards the Chinese government as since 1980 the People’s Republic of China has played an essential role in supporting the development of our people.

To date, she said, Seychelles has over 100 graduates from Chinese universities and the numbers continue to increase significantly each year.

“These graduates are now contributing actively to the Seychelles economy and they are being groomed to be future leaders. The award of another eight undergraduate scholarships in fields such as psychology, cultural industry management, Chinese medicine and journalism this year, shows your strong commitment to the functional development of Seychellois and your strong belief in our quest to build local capacity in various fields,” said Mrs Pillay.

Mrs Pillay went on to say that Seychelles is privileged to have a development partner and a friend in the likes of the Chinese people and is looking forward to building further on that strong foundation in its effort to strengthen its small human resource base.

Expressing her gratitude and appreciation to the government of the People’s Republic of China through the Chinese ambassador, Mrs Pillay told the awardees the pride she felt in their achievements.

She urged them to not only gain as much knowledge and skills as they can but to also be exemplary ambassadors.

Echoing Ambassador Shi’s advice, she told the students that China has a lot to offer in terms of its culture and way of life. She asked them to be prepared to make some quick adjustments in order to settle in the cultural environment so that they can focus on their studies.

“Remember as the famous philosopher Aristotle taught us ‘the roots of education are bitter but the fruit is sweet’. We all look forward to your return to the country to impart your new knowledge and implement the skills you will no doubt amass,” she said.

And to parents, Mrs Pillay assured them that their children are in good hands and China is a wonderful place for learning. They will have all the support they will need in order to excel in their studies.

In a vote of thanks on behalf of other students, Ryan Govinden, who is going to study for a Bachelor of Engineering (specialising in Mechanical Engineering), thanked Ambassador Shi and the Chinese government for the opportunity accorded to them to continue their studies.

He said studying abroad is part of Seychellois students’ education and is a vital investment.

He said sending Seychellois students overseas is a necessity as the country wants to have a new generation of leaders.

Govinden said he and his colleagues will commit themselves to their studies to make both the Chinese and Seychelles governments proud.

He said they will endeavour to soak in as much Chinese culture as possible and will learn everything they can so that upon their return they will be equipped with a broad and sophisticated knowledge to join the Seychelles workforce and contribute to the further development of their country.

The scholarships awardees and the courses they will follow are as follows:

Genevieve Allain – Bsc Psychology; Max Camille – Cultural Industry Management (Film and Television Production); Ryan Govinden – Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering); Sabrina Sabino – Chinese Medicine; Maria Madeleine – Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering); Shirley Low-Wah – BA Finance;

Marla Simeon – BA Journalism; and Antoine Monnaie – BA Fine Arts.

» Back to Archive