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Archive -Seychelles

Civil Society Festival celebrates volunteers’ work and contributions |28 November 2016

Forty civil society organisations (CSOs) showcased their work, engaged with the public and recruited new members during a festival to celebrate volunteers on Freedom Square on Saturday.

Organised by the Citizens Engagement Platform Seychelles (Ceps) in partnership with the Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) and other partners, the CSO festival coincided with Ceps’ second anniversary, the 16 Days of activism against domestic violence, international Volunteers Day on December 5 and Human Rights Day on December 10.

The principal secretary in the Vice-President’s Office Alain Volcère launched the festival which was held under the theme ‘Celebrate volunteers’ and this was in the presence of  Vice-President Vincent Meriton who has the portfolio for civil society, Ceps’ chief executive Marcel Rosalie, the managing director of MCB Francois Jackson, among other Ceps members and guests.

Mr Volcère extended the government’s gratitude to the different CSOs and commended the remarkable work they have been doing for so many years supporting government’s actions to address social issues brought about by our integration in the globalised world.

He also expressed gratitude to the MCB for its continuous support and called for more engagement and support from private agencies and organisations.

“We have reached a stage where more than ever before there is the pressing need to mobilise resources and goodwill to bring about the kind of socio-economic transformation and progress to benefit all our citizens,” Mr Volcère said.

For his part Ceps chairperson Jules Hoareau noted that anyone can be a volunteer in any CSO and need not necessarily be talented in any specific field but having the passion, commitment and desire to help others is enough.

“We volunteers choose to dedicate our free time working in different fields such as education, good governance, social and health but in spite of these differences we all share love and joy. Love to serve our brothers and sisters and the joy that overcome us when we fulfill these actions and services,” Mr Hoareau said.

Mr Hoareau went on to highlight the work that Ceps is doing not only nationally but on the regional level as well; heading the SADC regional NGO body as well as supporting other member countries to strengthen their civil society bodies.

He commended the different NGOs for their remarkable work and extended gratitude to all dedicated volunteers with special thoughts for those who are no longer active for health reasons.

“Ceps thanks you all and is proud of you. As volunteers we transform lives and touch hearts through our dedication and actions,” he said.

Bernard Jackson, the managing director of the MCB – the main partner of Ceps that has fully funded the festival – said the bank has pledged to fully support Ceps and will continue to be more involved in supporting community activities.

“We have our responsibility as bankers but we also have our commitment to support and contribute in the society not only financially but with support from our staff,” he said.

Joanna Pouponneau, Ceps’ commissioner for Youth, Sports and Culture, talked about volunteerism and the importance of engaging young people in such a movement.

The fair was a great opportunity for CSOs – which are non-state actors involved and engaged in national development – to better know and appreciate each other’s work, to allow members of the public to have a better insight into their work and meet their members.

Members of the public wishing to be part of any CSO were able to get more information and fill registration forms to enroll.

Through a special information and advice bureau it had set up, Ceps gave the public advice and more information on its functions and operations.

In the afternoon popular artists performed Christmas carols while Jojo and his friends continued to entertain children at the fair and SPACE 95 also had in place a huge castle to add more fun for the children.

Musical entertainment started very early as the different CSOs laid out their work long before the official opening at 10am.

Other partners and supporters of Ceps, such as the Seychelles Civil Aviation Agency (SCAA), the Seychelles Trading Company (STC), among others, had also set up their stalls.

Ceps is the only national umbrella organisation for civil society in Seychelles with 60 non-governmental organisations from a wide range of sectors as members which it has organised into seven commissions.

Ceps came into being in 2014 replacing the Liaison Unit for Non-Governmental Organisation (Lungos).

 

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