Seychelles hosts scouts youth forum |13 December 2019

The scouts in a souvenir photograph (Photo: Anel Robert)

The Seychelles Scouts Association (SSA) hosted its first Indian Ocean Youth forum yesterday under the theme ‘Be the change you want to see in the world’.

The Youth Scout forum, held at the Reef Holiday Apartments at Anse Aux Pins, was attended by over thirty plus delegates from the Comoros, Mauritius, and Madagascar.

It has been 12 years since the last forum was held in 2007.

“Scouting has continued its mission of bringing together and empowering young people from diverse backgrounds to become agents of positive change in their communities. They volunteer to join a global fraternity committed to upholding human rights values, equality, peace and social justice and thus contribute to development. With their immense energy, enthusiasm, skills and motivation, young people can become a common force for doing well through scouting, creating an impact for themselves, their families and their communities,” said Safidy Randriamitantsoa, the vice-president of the Young Advisor African Scout Committee.

He added that the future of Africa depends mainly on the efforts it makes to promote and develop its human resources, especially its youth; in the future, young people will be called upon to assume various responsibilities in each respective country. As a result, their education is a decisive step in their preparation for working life.

“Scouting offers young people the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge by empowering them through active participation in the Movement and their communities. Engagement, recognition and intergenerational exchange are key elements in the empowerment of our young members and contributes to sustainable development,” he remarked.

The forum opened with a testament from a Seychellois scout troop followed by a sega performance from the Seychellois scouts.

In her address to the group, the Chief Commissioner of the association, Betty-May Sofa, noted that the purpose of this forum is to bring all the scouts in the Indian Ocean together.

“Our plan is to discuss our position as a scout organisation and also our projects, plans and how to work together. Another reason for this is to be more innovative and ask the young scout members their needs and interest so scouts can work with them and move with the flow of the new generation,” said the commissioner.

The forum will end on December 19.

Christophe Zialor