Staff symposium to reflect and evaluate the role of SNYC |11 March 2023

SNYC chief executive Albert Duncan addressing staff during the symposium (Photos: Joena Meme)

Among the various activities to commemorate its 25th anniversary, the Seychelles National Youth Council organised a symposium for its staff yesterday morning at the International Conference Centre Seychelles to reflect and evaluate the role of the organisation.

The 44 staff who work in different districts gathered to share their views and made recommendations on the way forward. The theme of the celebration was ‘Pozitivite Toulezour.’

SNYC’s new chief executive, Albert Duncan shared that his role will be to bring new ideas, new ways of doing things and look for opportunities to engage the youth. “Youths in Seychelles have changed and the situation is not the same anymore. The media, be it social or traditional, has changed the behaviour of our youths. SNYC needs to find ways to adjust its programmes to impact the youth of today,’ said CEO Duncan.

The major challengeis the change of mindset, noted the CEO. “We have 44 staff only and the challenge is to engage all other stakeholders that are doing a similar job as SNYC to engage with us to make this difference in the lives of the youth,” he added.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary, a series of activities has been lined up and MrDuncan promises a lot of surprises in store for the youth.

An SNYC staff who has witnessed the beginning of the organisation to date, Simon Barra, started as a youth worker and now holds the position of director of the youth engagement support section. He described his journey with SNYC as an exciting one. “When I started my career, it was a challenge and at that time, youth were asking support from the districts. I started with Les Mamelles district and I felt there were many social problems and I decided as a youth myself to join the others to give support to the youth. There were many challenges along the way but I got the support from the youth themselves and the organisation,” he said.

Mr Barra acknowledges that in 2023, there are new issues and SNYC has to adapt to new methods to address them. “Working with the youth means we need to evolve. Technology has changed the landscape and together with my colleagues and the new CEO we are developing new ways to tackle the issues. We also have a lot of positivity happening amongst the youth and we need to highlight that. With the team we have today, I am sure that we will do better than yesterday,” he said.

During the symposium, the staff were able to discuss the vision, mission of SNYC; the instrument that guides the work of SNYC; the role of the youth empowerment and well-being section, and other issues.

“The youth does not belong to SNYC! Youth is for the whole country and we need to work together with all stakeholders to bring solutions and develop the youth,” concluded Mr Barra.

Vidya Gappy