Former President Danny Faure launches Foundation |09 June 2021
Former President Faure speaking at the launch ceremony in the presence of members of the foundation
The former President of the Republic of Seychelles, Danny Faure, yesterday officially launched the Danny Faure Foundation.
The non-profit and non-political organisation was launched during a short ceremony at the STC conference room which was attended by the former President and his wife, members of the board of the foundation and Ambassador Ronny Jumeau.
Speakers from key regional and international institutions attended the event virtually and the ceremony was also streamed live on YouTube.
The Danny Faure Foundation, which is an initiative of former President Faure, aims to promote ocean governance, the blue economy as the next frontier of sustainable development, good governance, accountability and transparency for sustainable development in Africa, effective leadership and gender equality in a new generation of leaders in Africa and to educate and encourage the youth to adopt positive lifestyles in shaping the country to its highest level of development – in the areas of education, health and environmental protection.
“Today is the United Nation’s World Oceans Day. In celebration and in support of this day, we have chosen to launch the Danny Faure Foundation. We are convinced that humanity must do everything to protect the ocean which is the beating blue heart of our planet,” Mr Faure highlighted when addressing everyone present.
He said the Danny Faure Foundationwill be at the forefront of this noble undertaking to help fix our planet.
“During my Presidency Seychelles achieved a historical milestone on May 26, 2019 when we legally designated one third of our ocean territory as a marine protected area 10 years ahead of the global target of 30% Ocean Protection by 2030. With this achievement we hope to inspire and we hope that others will follow,” Mr Faure stressed.
He went on to note that through a network of volunteers and in collaboration with both local and international organisations, they will develop programmes for each of the pillars.
“My leadership has been recognised by regional institutions and multilateral organisations around the world. It is on this basis that the Danny Faure Foundation will establish and build partnerships with local, regional and international institutions and organisations,” Mr Faure highlighted.
He further added that the foundation will seek the support of local and international organisations to fund the various programmes relevant to the five pillars as well as through its activities the foundation will also attract and mobilise resources to fund its programmes.
With a partnership-oriented approach, the Danny Faure Foundation endeavours to: assist members in their academic research, technical work and professional development; cooperate with other professional groups to improve and promote good governance, accountability and transparency; carry out consultancy work including reports on the blue economy; fundraise for the purpose of carrying out the objectives of the foundation; become a member of or enter into agreements with government institutions, national, regional and international organisations; cooperate with or enter into arrangement with educational authorities, charitable organisations, local authorities or any person or body having a common vision, aims and objectives of the foundation and do such other things as may be incidental or conducive to or necessary for the better attainment of the objects of the foundation.
Ambassador Jumeau, former Seychelles’ ambassador to the UN and Ambassador at large for Climate Change, Conservation, Sustainability, Small Islands and Ocean, also addressed the attendees in these words: “We remember when former President Faure spoke from below the waves in the middle of the Indian Ocean in the first live broadcast by a head of state from under the sea. When he described the marine wonders around him as ‘the beating blue heart of our planet’, he summed up how critically important the ocean is to not only the future of humankind but all life on this blue planet of ours. Putting the blue economy at the top of Seychelles’ and international agendas, he signalled the world, especially islands, coastal and ocean states, this is where our future wealth and security lie. Transparency, good governance and accountability were the defining themes of Mr Faure’s presidency as were national unity and reconciliation to the extent that it changed the way we do politics and govern in Seychelles.”
Ambassador Jumeau further said that the future state of Seychelles lies in the state of our young people as Mr Faure passionately believes.
“He told them early in his presidency, ‘your voices are an integral part of finding solutions for our common future. True to this, Seychellois youth have proven time and again that they are ahead of their elders on critical issues of the day – especially as guardians of a harmonious, if not sacred, bond with the natural wealth around us, which is the foundation of our economy.”
Mr Faure’s commitment and leadership towards ocean sustainability was recognised by the African Union, which declared him as ‘Champion for the Development of the Blue Economy’ at the 11th Extraordinary AU Assembly Session in Addis Ababa in November 2018. Less than a year later, on June 13, 2019, he was awarded the National Geographic Society's prestigious ‘Planetary and Leadership Award’ at a National Geographic Awards Ceremony at the George Washington University, in Washington DC.
Mr Faure concluded by saying, “we are living in difficult times. The world is facing many challenges. Our foundation will be here to help as best it can. If we all contribute in a small way, we can change the world for the better”.
The foundation is composed of the following members: former President Danny Faure (founder and chairman), Maurice Loustau-Lalanne (vice-chairman), Bertrand Belle (secretary), Ginny Elizabeth (treasurer), Alain de Commarmond (member) and Lorraine Faure (executive director).
Meanwhile a large number of reputed personalities intervened virtually and wished the best for the foundation. They included Oliver Steeds, chief executive of Nekton; Dr Kristian Teleki, director Friends of Ocean Action at the World Economic Forum; Admassu Tadesse, president and group managing director of Trade Development Bank; Dr Stergomena Lawrence, Tax SADC executive secretary; Ambassador Peter Thomson, UN secretary general’s special envoy for the ocean; Dr Vera Songwe, executive secretary for the UN Economic Commission for Africa and Patricia Scotland QC, Commonwealth secretary general.
The ceremony ended with the unveiling of the foundation’s logo and launch of the foundation’s website which is https://www.dannyfaurefoundation.org/
Local music icon Joe Samy concluded the event with his song ‘Oceans and Visions’.
Vidya Gappy
Photos: Jude Morel
