The SADC Youth Forum Protocol Validation Meeting, held from the 3rd to the 5th of July 2024 in Luanda, Angola, brought together youth representatives and officials from the Youth Department and National Youth Councils of the 16 SADC member states to validate and adopt the SADC National Youth Forum Protocol.

Seychelles was represented by Ms. Nylah Lespoir, a youth representative, and Ms. Merna Albert, a senior official from the Youth Department. During the three-day meeting, member states representatives successfully validated and adopted the protocol, aiming to enhance youth participation and align national and regional youth policies, thereby empowering young people and fostering regional cooperation.

Lansman versyon Kreol Polisi Nasyonal pour Lazenes ti ganny fer Sanmdi le 23 Oktob dan lasal konferans kot Konsey Nasyonal pour Lazenes.

Apre lansman katriyenm edisyon Polisi Nasyonal pour Lazenes an versyon angle le  11 Avril 2019, Departman Lazenes ek Sport ti vwar nesesite pour osi annan en versyon an Kreol pour kat rezon prensipal-

1. Kreol i nou lalang maternel;
2. Kreol i enn parmi nou trwa lalang ofisyel;
3. Akse avek lenformasyon dan en fason kler e konpreansib, i drwa nou bann zenn; e
4. Pour annan en polisi enkliziv nou bezwen asire ki popilasyon zenn osi byen ki bann travayer lazenes ki pli alez avek lektir an kreol, i kapab pli byen konpran konteni sa dokiman.

Realizasyon sa travay ti form par en travay kolaboratif ant Lenstiti Kreol ek Departman Lazenes ek Sport kin dire pandan anviron 1 an edmi.

Parey tin ganny prevwar depi lo komansman sa travay, sa versyon kreol Polisi Nasyonal pour Lazenes in ganny lanse pandan Lasemenn Kreol 2021 dan en pti seremoni kin dire pour anviron 30 minit. Dan sa seremoni Polisi ti ganny prezante avek bann partener kle e answit i ti ganny lanse lo sit web Departman Lazenes ek Sport.

Sa lakonplisman i met sa dokiman a la porte nou popilasyon zenn, bann travayer, groupman ek lorganizasyon ki travay avek zenn osi byen ki piblik an zeneral.

Merna Albert

Zofisye Prensipal Planifikasyon

Departman Lazenes ek Sport

• First Age Group (14– 17 Years Old)

• Second Age Group (18–24 Years Old)

• Third Age Group (25 –35 Years Old)

Categories

• Science
• Art
• Architecture
• Photography

Apply now on www.nbhaward.bh 
Cash Prizes up to $ 11،000
Last Day for Submissions 1st September 2021

The Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports is organizing a press conference to discuss the MIND OVER MATTER CHALLENGE hosted by Miss Felicity Passon

Date: Friday 09^th April 2021

Time: 09.00am

Panellists:

Miss Felicity Passon

Mr. Neil Puresh (Passon’s father)

National Sports Council CEO Jean Larue

Quality of Life Division DG Beryl Naiken

Aside to the details of the actual event and donation drive, Mrs. Naiken overseeing the Quality of Life Division (recipient of the activity) will go over the mental health project which entails to extend the psychosocial support  by establishing a Telephone & E-Counselling Service.

The UN Women, the European Commission, Belgium, France, Mexico and the association Cartooning for Peace, launched  a Global Comic and Cartoon Competition named “Generation Equality – Picture It!” to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

The Competition calls youth, aged 18 to 28, from all over the world, to picture their vision for gender equality in fields ranging from sharing of unpaid care and domestic work to fighting for an end to sexual harassment and all forms of violence against women and girls.

The awarded cartoons will be exhibited as well as featured on the online platform of Cartooning for Peace and the prizes will be:

First Prize: EUR 1200

Second Prize: EUR 750

Third Prize: EUR 500

The deadline to submit the cartoons is by 14 March 2021.

More information related to the competition can be found on https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2021/1/announcement-comic-and-cartoon-competition

For their first performance, Seychelles presented the Kamtole dance with a very enthusiastic crowd and our local french rapper Damasy new song “Princesses” got the audience dancing.

During the morning assembly he presented a copy of the National Youth Policy with the Headboy and headgirl of the La Digue Secondary School.

MR. Palmyre also visited  the Vijay International School and met with school headteacher Mr. Mark Howell and all the athletes who participated in the inter-School Competition and presented the School with a copy of the National Youth Policy.

They are the 10^th cohort to earn the gold standard since the re-introduction of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International programme in 2000.

The new gold standard award holders were presented with their pins and certificates by President Danny Faure – who is the patron of the programme – during a brief ceremony at State House in the presence of their families.

Courtesy of Seychelles Nation: http://www.nation.sc/articles/163/the-duke-of-edinburghs-international-award-seychelles

It was President Faure who as the then education minister in 2003, working along with former education special advisor Marie Therese Choppy, conceived the idea to have a young citizens’ movement aimed at teaching children discipline, togetherness, friendliness and good manners, among other things.

They also get to take part in a series of activities such as educational visits and cultural activities.

The Young Citizens Programme was formally launched on March 12, 2004.

The Young Citizens programme, present in all primary and secondary schools on Mahé and Praslin, is for young people aged six to 17 years. The motto of the Young Citizens is ‘Mon Pei, Mon Patri pour Touzour’.

Talking on the success and challenges of the movement managed by the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC), the director of the programme, Anne-Marie Adrienne, said the Young Citizens Programme has at the moment 48 school facilitators which are not enough as there are still some schools with no facilitators to work with the children.

She said that getting finance to run the programme and a proper place for the youth to camp are among the biggest challenges.

“Some people might be amazed to learn that some young people don’t even know how to sweep, arrange their clothes, make their beds, do some cooking, among other small daily household duties. These are the sort of things we teach them so that they can be of some help in the homes and that also prepare them to be responsible citizens,” Mrs Adrienne said.

She described the programme as “very successful”.

Welcoming the young citizens, the majority of whom were making their first visit to State House, President Faure said that to celebrate the success of the 15 years of the Young Citizens Programme we have to thank all those who have contributed and supported the programme.

He noted that if all stakeholders – parents, teachers and the society – give support and comfort to children, the country will see a bright future with young people of good moral and positive values.

President Faure made a personal engagement to continue supporting the programme.

He launched an appeal for more facilitators to join the programme in the schools and also appealed to the business community to help finance youth programmes at all levels as it will contribute to the development of the youth and the country.

“The problem in the society today differs from that of 2004. The problems are very complex with many difficulties. There are different actors in our country that are working together to do more for our children and we would like to thank them all,” President Faure said.

He also thanked the children for making it to State House in their same original black coloured skirts and trousers and yellow t-shirts bearing the hand logo for the past 15 years.

On behalf of his colleagues, 12-year-old Kein Bannane from Perseverance secondary school thanked President Faure for giving them the privilege to express their wishes and desires and vowed to continue to work hard to lift the country high.

Gracia Labiche, a facilitator of the programme for 15 years and teacher from La Rosière primary school, said she felt proud and honoured to see some of the children she had worked with occupying high positions in the country.

“I will be retiring soon and I hope the up and coming facilitators stay committed so that they can stay on for a further 15 years to helping our young people. I have enjoyed my 15 years with the programme,” she said, noting that the programme has brought her to discover places she would never have dreamt of visiting.

During the ceremony Noamie Barbe from Belonie secondary school read ‘Paviyon Mon Pei’, a poem written by Juliette Insenga.

Later President Faure invited Mrs Adrienne and Tracy Morel from Au Cap primary school, Delores Confiance from Baie Lazare primary school and Rimond Michel from Takama primary school for the anniversary cake cutting.

All Young Citizens talked too yesterday said they will stay on the programme to continue to learn new things from the many things being taught.

They also noted that they have made a lot of friends.

“Young Citizens helps us to learn many things that we can do to help at home and I will stay until I reach secondary school. It’s fun,” said Dolores Confiance.

The chief executive of SNYC, Penny Belmont, was also present at the gathering.

This year’s Games follow two successful meetings in 2014 and 2016 and it is gathering students from the 11 public and four private secondary schools in the country, battling for the top spots in athletics, basketball, swimming, football, table tennis and volleyball.

At the last Games in 2016, it was the Anse Royale Secondary School who emerged as the best overall.

Yesterday’s opening ceremony which was held in partnership with the Youth Festival organising committee was attended by principal secretary for youth and sports Fabian Palmyre, chief executive of the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC) Alvin Laurence, board chairman of the National Sports Council (NSC) Eddie Micock, chief executive of the NSC Jean Larue, head teachers, staff of the SNYC and NSC.

It started with a march past by athletes, before the Games’ hymn was performed by Christiana Alexis.

Launching the third Games, Mr Laurence reminded the athletes that it is the perfect opportunity for them to prove themselves and show what they can do as the youth of their country, despite the negative image which presently portrays the younger generation.

On his part, PS Palmyre urged the athletes to compete in unity, respect and tolerance towards one another.

“Despite being in opposite teams, it is important to practice unity and friendship,” he added.

Young athlete Kiran Bhageeruty and official Tasha Barbé then took the oath on behalf of their colleagues, before some cheer leading and dance performances put the guests on the edge of their seats.

The official opening ceremony ended with a series of boxing exhibition bouts.

The Zwe Lespwar was initiated as a tool to get the youngsters to enjoy sports, make friends, and develop good values and attitudes, including discipline, tolerance and fairness, while keeping them away from social ills.

The accompanying photos were taken during yesterday afternoon’s ceremony.