SNYC launches first youth advisory committee to empower young leaders |13 February 2024
Members of the youth advisory committee in a souvenir photo with Minister Zialor and SNYC chief executive Albert Duncan (Photo: Kurtrine Albert)
Members of the first ever established youth advisory committee of the Seychelles National Youth Council, officially received their letter of appointments at the Family House, Bel Eau, yesterday afternoon.
The primary goal of the committee is to give strategic advice to the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC) on their programmes and operations. The nine members are Alexandria Faure, Nissa Thompson, Angelique Juliette, Daryl Adolphe, Horisha Savy, Antonio Bamboche, Nyla Lespoir, Marlon Esparon and a representative from the inner islands who will be identified shortly.
They are a group of young professionals who have a lot of experience as leaders in their respective fields and will be relied on for capacity and ideas.
More importantly they will be entrusted to act as the voice of the youth under the theme ‘Nothing for the youth, without the youth’.
In a 30-minute courtesy meeting they had with the Minister for Youth, Sports and Family, Marie-Celine Zialor, the young leaders had discussions on the role and objectives of the youth advisory committee and opportunities for networking and collaboration between the committee members and the ministry.
They also had the chance to introduce themselves and explain their goals and aspirations, whilst bringing fresh ideas and a positive mindset to the table.
Chief executive of SNYC, Albert Duncan said the committee was part of the strategic plan and as early as last year, they worked with affiliated youth groups to select the committee. “I am very proud to say that they are dynamic and have a lot of capacity, and more importantly, a love for a spirit of volunteerism. Not just for SNYC but the youth of Seychelles,” said Mr Duncan.
He noted that the committee will be a platform for a direct voice of the youth to put forward their concerns, their dreams, their aspirations in front of SNYC which acts as a bridge between the current generation and the government. “This will professionalise what we are doing and will put us on a level and a good scope where we can give back to the youth.”
Mr Duncan commended Minister Zialor for her belief in the youth and the next generation of leaders. “We are counting on all of you a lot. It is a partnership and these are exciting times ahead of us.”
Chairperson of the committee, Alexandria Faure, who works as deputy clerk of the National Assembly, stated that based on their previous meetings since last year, they noticed there was still a lot of work that needs to be done.
“A clear word that the CEO used is that it is a partnership. We are not coming here to dictate the SNYC how it should work, but rather bring recommendations at the forefront to advise the management and bring forth the aspiration of the youth,” said Ms Faure.
Sunny Esparon