Makarios Foundation donates R100,000 to Ministry of Education |06 May 2023
The handover of the donation
The Archbishop Makarios Foundation of Seychelles has donated R100,000 to the Ministry of Education.
The handover of the donation took place yesterday in a ceremony held at the Ministry of Education’s headquarter at Mont Fleuri.
The Archbishop Makarios Foundation of Seychelles, which was originally called The Archbishop Makarios Trust Fund, was established on May 18, 1973 by Archbishop Makarios III. He came to Seychelles two times and before he left on his second visit he donated a sum of £1000 for a permanent fund to provide scholarships to Seychellois students in need. These are the original terms of reference of the Trust Fund: assisting needy Seychellois pupils in deserving cases to accomplish their studies in secondary schools in Seychelles.
The aims and objectives of the foundation include succeeding the Archbishop Makarios Scholarship Fund by continuing to assist Seychellois children and also to do other charitable events including to create and manage a Makarios cultural centre or memorial centre in the future.
Chief Justice Rony Govinden, chairperson of the board, noted that it was an honour for him to be there as he is the seventh Chief Justice to chair the board.
“The Makarios Foundation epitomises what is best in us, a strong moral fortitude to do good, to give to the needy. Archbishop Makarios III inspires us. Since the foundation’s creation over 3600 students have benefitted over the years. Archbishop French Chang Him has been present on the association since its creation and he is still here to motivate us. The foundation signifies also the friendship that exists between Cyprus and Seychelles. We thank the government of Cyprus for its kind support.”
CJ Govinden also noted that as often as their investments permit they would invest in the children of Seychelles and called upon the people of Seychelles to invest in the foundation.
Minister for Education, Dr Justin Valentin, thanked the foundation to have considered the Ministry of Education as a recipient.
“For us, we always believe in partnership and we always believe we cannot make it on our own. Each time we receive this kind of donation, it is a plus and we acknowledge it. The children who will receive the donation have been carefully chosen by the panel and we hope they will make the best use of it,” shared the minister.
Archbishop Makarios III of Cyprus was exiled to Seychelles by the British government due to his struggle to free Cyprus from British rule. He was taken to Seychelles on March 14, 1956 and stayed until April 5, 1957.
Seychelles stayed in the heart of the Archbishop. Thirteen years after his return to Cyprus, he came to Seychelles on a second visit in 1972, when he was President of Cyprus.
In 1973, the Archbishop Makarios Fund was created to assist children in Seychelles. As the oldest charity in the country, the Archbishop Makarios Foundation of Seychelles is dedicated to the education of children and the legacy of the archbishop.
During the event, Srdjana Janosevic also launched the new website of the association www.archbishopmakarios.com
The foundation’s board is always chaired by the incumbent Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Seychelles and comprises representatives of the Anglican Church, the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church, honorary consuls of Cyprus and Greece and the Ministry of Education, as well as ordinary members.
This ensures that the foundation has a rigorous oversight of its fundraising and disbursement activities and also ensures the longevity of the charity as part of the legacy of Archbishop Makarios in Seychelles.
How does it work?
The Archbishop Makarios Foundation disburses bursaries on an annual basis. In order to qualify for an award, a student is selected by the Ministry of Education and the amount is determined by the foundation.
The Ministry of Education receives names of students presented from state primary and secondary schools during the first term of the school year.
A selection panel from the Ministry of Education presents the chairman of the foundation with a list of nominated students from the list received. The selected students are presented to the committee members for assessment and approval.
Over 3600 students have received bursaries since the fund was created. On average, over 200 awards have been made annually in recent years.
When they receive their awards, the students are encouraged to give of their best throughout their studies, that they will play their role and mission in life as responsible and mature citizens, thus contributing towards the welfare and development of the country and the nation.
The members of the board are Justice Rony Govinden, Stella Napier, Linda Monthy, Archbishop French Chang-Him, Archpriest Sergios Janosevic, Reverend Father Edwin Mathiot, Georgia Van Heyste, Juliana Bonne, AG Frank Ally and Srdjana Janosevic.
Vidya Gappy
Photo by Louis Toussaint