Message from the Registrar of Associations, Wendy Zialor, on the occasion of the World NGO Day |27 February 2025

‘Celebrating our NGOs – Empowering grassroots for a sustainable future

“Today, we recognise and celebrate the invaluable and the impactful  contributions of our NGOs (non- government organisations). The NGOs, although their existence is historical, their influences remain very relevant and indispensable still today.

“An NGO is foremost concerned with addressing the public good; existing as civil society organisations, non-profit organisations and associations, their activities if not complement but inspire the efforts of both government and other private institutions, to help bring about the necessary changes in our communities and the society, with the goal of attaining sustainable development and growth for our people.

“In Seychelles we have 486 registered associations, and this is just the registered groupings, while there may be more in existence yet to come forward to have their status legalised. The office of the Registrar of Associations remains available to work with all of them, at the very least to ensure that they retain their goodstanding status, necessary in their undertakings, for instance to have access to available facilities needed in the furtherance of their noble causes.

“When we consider the sorts of challenges our society is currently facing, for instance the different social ills, this year’s theme is quite fitting, the ‘Grassroots movements’, those NGOs which are live and present within our communities, touching our youth, the families, the vulnerable ones. They should therefore be recognised, entrusted and supported for the works they are doing. They should be empowered however is possible so that they can reach as many numbers as is conceivable. There would be no sustainable future if our communities are weak and failing.

“On this day today, we therefore must take the time to especially appreciate and commend these NGOs on the good works they have done and continue to do and encourage the different institutions within the country to join efforts to help expedite the consolidation of these important works.”

Wendy Zialor

Registrar of Associations