Seychellois students in Malaysia launch Sunway Seychelles Society |12 August 2025
Seychellois students in Malaysia launch Sunway Seychelles Society
Seychellois studying in Malaysia now have a sense of home and a platform to share their identity following the creation of ‘Sunway Seychelles Society’ in April this year, followed by its official launch in May with its first event titled ‘Discover our Culture’, featuringan exhibition showcasing Seychelles to students at Sunway University in Malaysia.
Seychelles NATION spoke to Sheena Labonte, a member of the newly formed group, who said the idea was to bring Seychellois together to cope with being far away from home and family and make the separation bearable.
“Being far from home is not always easy, and this society is our way of keeping the island vibes alive, sharing our cultures with others and supporting each other as a community,” she said.
The society is centred on promoting Seychelles – its people, culture, food, language, music and traditions – while also welcoming non-Seychellois students who wish to learn more. “Many people have never heard of Seychelles, so this is a way for them to know and learn about our cultures and traditions,” Ms Labonte added.
The group has also began collaborating with others, including a recent interview on social media platform Klik, which Ms Labonte described as an important opportunity to connect with the community back home and highlight the society’s work abroad.
To date, 16 members have joined ‘Sunway Seychelles Society’, and the society’s aim is to increase this number and eventually host popular annual activities back home such as the Creole Festival in October.
Ms Labonte stressed that the initiative is about more than just student entertainment.
“We are here to have fun and create joyful memories, but we also want to build something meaningful for the long term.”
Membership is open to all students interested in Seychelles. “This is a meaningful step for all of us. It is not only about creating a home away from home, it is also about sharing Seychelles with the world. We are proud to be here, proud to share our culture and excited for what is to come,” Ms Labonte concluded.
Contributed