Chinese ambassador donates US $6000, gifts to NCC on Children’s Day |02 June 2021

The children of Seychelles yesterday received a sum of US $6,000 and a variety of gifts including toys, stationery, medical supplies, 3D fun books, school bags, musical instruments, footballs, basketballs to name but some from Chinese Ambassador Guo Wei to mark Children’s Day.

The consignment of gifts was handed over to the National Council for Children (NCC) in a short ceremony at its headquarters at Bel Eau yesterday afternoon.

This was in the presence of First Lady Linda Ramkalawan, the Minister for Youth, Sports and Family Marie-Celine Zialor, key officials from the NCC, a small group of pupils from neighbouring Bel Eau primary school as well as the Children’s House.

Ambassador Guo Wei handed over the cheque for US $6,000 (a little over R100,000) to Minister Zialor who then passed it over to the chief executive of NCC, Yasmin Umarji.

The money will be used to fund activities of the first Children’s Festival, dubbed ‘Festival Zanfan’ being organised by the NCC and its partners to be held here from July 1-31, 2021.

First Lady Linda Ramkalawan accepted a sample of the gifts from Ambassador Guo Wei which will later be distributed to the children of Seychelles.

Addressing everyone present after the handover, Ambassador Guo Wei noted that “in China children are often likened to flowers and they carry the hopes for our brighter tomorrow and the dreams of our future”.

She further pointed out that over the past years the worthy efforts of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Family and the NCC to boost the welfare of Seychellois children have been most commendable and the Chinese embassy hopes to do more for Seychellois children.

She noted that over the years the Chinese embassy has always been present in the development of Seychellois children, building several playgrounds in different districts around the islands.

The embassy has also always brought its contributions in important festivals and occasions for children namely Children’s Day and Christmas.

“We have also donated numerous batches of school supplies and toys to the President’s Village and schools in the hope of bringing some joy to the children and to promote their development,” Ambassador Guo Wei stated.

With regard to the forthcoming Festival Zanfan, Ambassador Guo Wei said it will entail a series of important activities through which children will share joy with each other and where also some pertinent issues affecting children will be discussed and the embassy therefore thinks the great initiative of the NCC is very meaningful, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Noting that the festival has been greatly supported by the First Lady and Minister Zialor, the Chinese embassy would also like to take a positive part in it and provide some support within its capacity,” said Ambassador Guo Wei.

Minister Zialor, for her part, thanked Ambassador Guo Wei for thinking of our children on their special day in spite of the difficult circumstances which have prevented any significant celebrations.

She also highlighted the importance of play in the lives and development of children and stressed that children should take time to play because through play they learn a lot.

“As adults and parents we should encourage our children to play and create the right environment for them to play more especially with physical toys rather than electronic ones,” Minister Zialor stressed.

As for First Lady Linda Ramkalawan, she wished all the children of Seychelles a happy Children’s Day in spite of the difficult circumstances which for the second year have prevented them from celebrating their day as they would have wanted. But she said nevertheless it is also a time for all children to reflect on what is right and wrong in their lives and to focus on what is right.

“You should focus on your studies and you should as much as possible do your best to remain on the right path so you grow up to become young and responsible girls and boys,” First Lady Ramkalawan highlighted.

NCC chief executive Umarji remarked that there could not have been a better occasion to receive the gifts than on Children’s Day.

Expressing her gratitude on behalf of the NCC and the children of Seychelles, Ms Umarji said even though children are unable to celebrate their day they would very much appreciate the gifts.

She took the opportunity to also emphasise on the importance of play in the lives and the development of children, noting that the games and other gifts will be shared equally among the children of Seychelles.

The short ceremony ended with a song ‘I’d like to teach the world to sing’ by pupils from Children’s House after which the guests joined Ambassador Guo Wei to view the gifts.

The accompanying photos show some highlights of the ceremony.

Marie-Anne Lepathy

Photos by Joena Meme