Petra Morel first beneficiary of MUA Seychelles Insurance scholarship |09 September 2015

Petra Morel is the lucky recipient of a fully sponsored scholarship by Mauritius Union Assurance (MUA) Seychelles Insurance.

She will be studying for a LLB with Honours in Law at the Middlesex University in Mauritius starting end of this month.

The insurance firm’s chief executive Bertrand Casteres presented Ms Morel with all her necessary documents and visa on Monday at the company’s headquarters at the Oliaji Trade Centre.

“It is indeed a great day for us as we celebrate this important moment in the life and career of the first beneficiary of our Mauritian-Seychellois partnership. A partnership that has without fail made sure that a brilliant student from Seychelles will benefit from a full scholarship to pursue her studies at a Mauritian University,” said Mr Casteres.

“This event is in line with MUA’s engagement in fulfilling dutifully its corporate responsibility towards the youth of our islands. Not only do we share a common history but we do have a common future to build if one is to look at the collaborative efforts and business partnerships that continue to thrive between our two nations,” added Mr Casteres.

He further stated that the company’s aim is “to bring more and more Seychellois to pursue their higher education so that as a company and two nations we contribute to the improvement of the overall level of the youth in both countries”.

“They (the youth) represent our future and our investment today can only improve their ability to forge themselves a career to play fully their role as responsible, qualified and active employees or even entrepreneurs,” said Mr Casteres.

All started in May 2014 when MUA Seychelles Insurance signed a memorandum of understanding with the Agency for National Human Resource Development, (ANHRD). As per the terms of the agreement, MUA Seychelles Insurance agreed to offer one full scholarship to an A-Level graduate who meets the criteria for a government of Seychelles scholarship to study at undergraduate level in Mauritius for a subject considered as a priority for the country. The scholarship was advertised in the local media.

Ms Morel was delighted and declared: “Now I am stress free”.

She recalled that when she was a contestant in the Miss Seychelles Beauty Pageant three years ago, she was asked what would she choose between: Education, Wealth and Beauty.

“My answer was and still remains education. I chose education because I believe it is the most transcendent gift one can be given. It allows you to become who you want to be and it is a passport to the future you desire,” she boldly declared.

The chief executive of ANHRD, Roseline Houareau, commended MUA Seychelles for such a gesture.  “I would like to congratulate MUA Seychelles Insurance for taking such a bold initiative. This shows that you are not only prepared to take on a more active role in terms of the development of our country’s most valuable assets, our human resources, but that you also wish to strengthen the working relationship between the private and public sector.”