17th SNYA cohort inaugurated |22 June 2020
The new cohort in a souvenir photograph with guests (Photo: Jude Morel)
The 17th cohort of the Seychelles National Youth Assembly (SNYA), a programme encompassing youth empowerment and youth participation in national development, were on Saturday inaugurated into the Youth Assembly, in an official ceremony held at the ICCS.
The cohort, comprising 35 members representing youths at district and school levels, formally went through the induction process on March 14, whereby Speaker Darius Petrousse representing the Seychelles Business Studies Academy (SBSA), along with other office bearers, were elected.
During the ceremony on Saturday which was attended by Designated Minister Macsuzy Mondon and Speaker of the National Assembly Nicholas Prea among other dignitaries, the cohort was officially nominated and presented with badges to facilitate research in youth centres and other relevant institutions, by Penny Belmont, the chief executive of the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC) under which the programme falls.
Office bearers of the new cohort, who will undertake their roles as Youth parliamentarians for a one-year timeframe, were named as Shabella Simeon, the representative for Beau Vallon as deputy Speaker, Christie Naiken who represents Anse Boileau as Clerk and Dean Figaro of Au Cap as deputy Clerk.
“Today we are a seed and we have one year of our mandate to grow into a tree. This is an opportunity for us to stand together to accomplish our objectives and task. Let us make sure that every youth is touched by our actions. Let us seize this opportunity before us and let our voice be heard,” Speaker Petrousse said.
“We the 17th cohort will accomplish our objectives. Let us prove to the people out there that we are not the problem but that we are the generation of solution,” Speaker Petrousse added, encouraging his colleagues for the year’s work ahead.
The ceremony also packed another highlight as the outgoing cohort were presented with certificates. Outgoing Speaker Marlon Esparon, in an emotional address, thanked all who contributed towards the successes of his cohort, extending special thanks to members of the cohort themselves, SNYC and support staff with whom they’ve grown attached over the year.
“It has been a year packed with learning, about life, about our country, about our youth, and more so about ourselves. We were asked to raise the bar and I personally believe we achieved it and surpassed what was expected of us. We pledge to go out there and continue with our task of being youth ambassadors. Our work does not end here, go out there and take over the world as you are capable of it,” outgoing Speaker Esparon said.
CEO Belmont also addressed both cohorts, urging the new members to listen to the youths they are representing, to identify their needs and wants and find innovative solutions to the challenges they are faced with.
Ms Belmont also challenged the outgoing cohort to revamp the Seychelles Former Youth Parliamentarians Association, so as to ensure continuity of the work they started and maintain networking among peers.
The SNYA is a non-political, educational programme which provides its members the opportunity to develop leadership, research and oratory skills and provides youths with a forum of discussion on the important issues affecting not only youths, but society at large.
SYNA member are from all districts of the country as well as secondary and post-secondary institutions, and their role is to act as ambassadors and spokespersons for youths in their respective districts.
The programme was officially launched on July 30, 2003, after the drafting of the first youth policy in 1995. Since its inception, the programme has successfully molded over 500 young leaders, many of whom have progressed on to the National Assembly and other posts including special advisors, principal secretaries, and as board members.
Laura Pillay
