2023 - A busy year for the departments of youth and family |29 December 2023
2023 was a busy year for the Youth department within the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Family. To start off the year, a delegation of 10 youths represented Seychelles at the National Cadet Corps Youth Exchange Programme 2023 New Delhi, India.
This educational and cultural trip in many ways contributed towards the participants’ empowerment and professional development as they engaged in various activities including Republic Day Camp, national events, national parade, interactions with dignitaries and visit/sight-seeing to various places of historical and cultural importance.
Seychellois youth, Trevor Louise, became the newest member of the African Union Youth Assembly (AUYA), following the nomination, selection and voting process by the AUYA Electoral Council Board. His appointment as Country President Elect of Seychelles was announced by the Ethiopian-based organisation, which has called on him to be a powerful Voice for the African Youth and young people from Seychelles, and to represent them at the upcoming Parliamentary youth assembly events. Mr Louise has also been voted as a Board member of the Security Council, whose primary responsibility is to unite youth and young people of Africa, before, during and after their country's elections, to ensure there is peace, unity, solidarity and harmony in Africa, while at the same time training them to be watchdogs for peace.
A new non-governmental organisation – YES (Youth Empowerment Seychelles) – was launched by the youth, for the youth, on January 31, 2023. Chairperson and founder, Benjamin Port-Louis, said it was his interest in current global youth affairs and the issues the youths in Seychelles face that led him to create the organisation.
February
The Mozaik band called for affirmative action from everyone through the launch of their song ‘Leve’ dedicated to the people. The uplifting, motivating, and powerful lyrics of the creole song calls on everyone, regardless of age, to live with passion and to do everything with courage.
With the aim of reviewing their relationship, the Media, Youth, Sports and Culture Committee (MYSCC) of the National Assembly chaired by Honourable Wavel Woodcock visited the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC) led by its newly appointed chief executive officer, Albert Duncan.
Seychelles National Youth Assembly (SNYA) within the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC) for the first time organised an election for its office bearers instead of just nominating as was the case previously. The election for assembly’ 18th cohort for the secondary and post-secondary students aged 14 to 17 years old took place from February 27 to March 3.
The assembly’ 18th cohort was inaugurated on April 27, 2023 in a ceremony at the Eden Bleu Hotel, and took their Oath of Allegiance in the presence of Vice-President Ahmed Afif, National Assembly Speaker Roger Mancienne and First Lady Linda Ramkalawan, their parents, as well as youth representatives and other dignitaries. The 24-member team is led by 14-year-old Said Lesperance from Praslin secondary as speaker.
March
As part of the activities marking its 25th anniversary, the Seychelles National Youth Council’s (SNYC) launched a revamped and modernised youth services bureau at Anse Royale for the benefit of youths in the Southern Region. The centre offers a number of education-related services, sessions including craft workshops, and other programmes designed to build youth capacity and equip them with life skills.
The Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC) launched its helpline, number 2 725 725, with the aim of reducing mental health issues among young people.The helpline is to provide a safe and accessible platform for those aged between 15 and 35 years, to receive free psychosocial support and information, through immediate 7/7 basic counselling and referral services via telephone calls, text and WhatsApp.
May
A three-member delegation represented Seychelles at the Commonwealth Youth and Student Summit for African countries, held from May 9 to 11, 2023 in Abuja, Nigeria. Seychelles’ delegation comprised Marie May Larue who was representing the Youth department and Abigail Joubert from Beau Vallon secondary school and Julio Freminot from the Everlasting Love Ministry, both representing the Youth Council. They joined other young people from 21 African countries to address five key thematic issues which they said required urgent attention from policymakers, civil society organisations, and governments across the continent. These were the digital divide, the economy and creative industries, gender-based violence, the decolonisation of education, and child labour.
The Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC) led by its chief executive, Albert Duncan, held a meeting with representatives of 26 newly-formed youth-led clubs of interest to provide them with information about how SNYC could assist them to better deliver and implement programmes in their respective districts. They were given details about the Animator’s scheme, which is aimed at helping clubs that organise activities in the communities.
June
To commemorate the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26, 2023, Care, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education through the Plaisance primary and secondary schools including the School for the Exceptional Child, organised a ‘Resilience and Hope’ march against drug abuse and illicit trafficking in the district of Roche Caiman. The main aim of the march, which also marked the end of the organisation’s ‘Drugs and Alcohol Awareness Week’, was to denounce drug abuse and trafficking, promote resilience and ignite hope for our children against drug abuse.
August
This year’s edition of the Youth Festival was held at regional level, as part of efforts by the organisers to decentralise the event. The official opening of the festival was held at the Victoria gymnasium on August 11, 2023 under the theme ‘Positivity Everyday’. The activity was marked by various dances, poems and song performances by the youths.
November
The first Safeguarding Children’s Conference, organised by the National Council for Children, took place at the Savoy Resort & Spa, bringing together representatives from secondary one of private and public schools, along with the head teachers. The conference was to address critical issues concerning child protection, education, and overall well-being. The programme encompassed a diverse array of workshops, ranging from online safety, protective behaviour, and bullying to substance use prevention and more.
The Seychelles National Youth Council in collaboration with the regional human rights organisation, Droits Humains Ocean Indien (Dis-Moi), hosted the Indian Ocean Youth Ecological Summit in order to empower the youth, enhance their environmental awareness, and drive positive change in addressing the pressing ecological challenges within the region. It brought together around 70 passionate young leaders, environmental activists, and experts from the Indian Ocean region.
Twelve road safety youth ambassadors from different districts were appointed to promote and advocate for road safety among their peers and communities. Additionally, a memorandum of understanding between SNYC and the Road Safety Advisory Committee was signed to enhance awareness about road safety among the youth.
SNYC launched its helpline, number 2 725 725, with the aim of reducing mental health issues among young people. The helpline is to provide a safe and accessible platform for those aged between 15 and 35 years, to receive free psychosocial support and information, through immediate 7/7 basic counselling and referral services via telephone calls, text and WhatsApp. The service aims to increase support to young people who often have limited access to counselling and psychological services owing to stigma.
To mark Orange Day this year, on November 25, the Family department in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Family organised a series of talks and activities to advocate and raise awareness towards alleviating all forms of violence. The Orange Day Campaign: Say No to All Forms of Violence is a strategy used by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Family to highlight the issue of violence, especially against women and girls, and to call for a peaceful, violence-free society.
Family department
March
The Seychelles Scouts Association adopted the Plaisance home for the elderly and it was the Family department’s principal secretary, Clive Roucou, and the Seychelles Scout Association’s public relations and community development commissioner, Angella Ernesta, who officially inked the memorandum of understanding (MoU) to formally mark the adoption.
In a ceremony held at State House, ten children with special needs received a specifically made stroller each to help them move around more comfortably, especially when going out to enjoy outdoor activities. The donation of the special strollers was as a result of a collaboration between the Office of the President, the Family department, the Ministry of Health and other parties.
June
The elderly and disabled division within the family department introduced the fast track card for the elderly and disabled persons to access services at a quicker pace from the government and the private sector.
September
A group of women and girls from various ministries, agencies and youth organisations participated in a workshop titled ‘Digital upskilling of women and girls in Seychelles’. The aim of the workshop that took place at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort & Casino was to familiarise women and girls with online safety and security concerns and increase their digital usage since online abuse and harassment have been identified as key barriers to women’s uptake of the internet and digital tools.
November
To commemorate International Men’s Day on Sunday, November 19, under the theme ‘Zero Male Suicide’, the Family department hosted a Men’s fair comprising 25 groups of men and women from different government departments, agencies and non-governmental organisations. The aim of the fair was to display the men’s achievements and contributions, talk about their challenges and how to overcome them.
December
To commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, the ‘Ramp Up, Rise Up’ campaign to raise awareness on accessibility to wheelchair bound persons, whose movements are restricted due to unavailability of ramps in various locations especially buildings, was officially launched at the School for the Exceptional Child. The campaign is organised by the Disabled Division within the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Family in collaboration with the campaign’s founder, Christine Winslow.
Compiled by Patrick Joubert
Caption:
Participants of the workshop titled ‘Digital upskilling of women and girls in Seychelles’
Children’s Conference delegates in a souvenir photograph
Children with special needs receive strollers