Youth assembly prepares for final sitting |01 July 2004

This last sitting comes after the young members of the assembly sat for a one-year mandate, during which they debated on various motions, made cabinet visits and social interactions.

The programme for the closure, to be held at the Assembly Hall at National House where the youth body's sittings took place for the past 12 months, will however be a bit different, said youth principal secretary Alain Volcere.

Scheduled to start at 1 p.m., the young parliamentarians will debate the convention on the rights of the child, which coincides with President James Michel's National Day address when he declared 2005 as the year for the children of Seychelles.
Following the discussions and recommendations evolving from the debate, the young speaker of the assembly, Captain Clifford Andre, will address his fellow assembly members followed by an address by Minister for Education and Youth Danny Faure.

According to Nourissa Daman, the director for international cooperation and research in the youth department, assembly members have expressed positive outcomes and experiences from the assembly for the past year.
"The young assembly members testified that being part of this assembly has cultivated in them good values such as respect for fellow peers and others in the community, as well as volunteering at community level," said Ms Daman.

She added that in addition to obtaining good living values, certain personal benefits have also been reaped from the parliamentary adventure.

"Some have expressed their satisfaction in having gained self confidence and became more assured to face challenges, acquired good communication skills in circumstances when their opinions differ, time management to fulfil their daily responsibilities as well as undertake other activities, but most of all they have appreciated voicing out their views and seeing them being considered by the people in authority," Ms Daman said.

According to PS Volcere, selections for the second assembly are currently on the way and recruitment is being done on a widely representative basis.

"This time we have selected the youths via recommendations made by various youth bodies such as scouts, National Youth Council, schools as well as districts," said Mr Volcere.

He added that to make the selection more widespread, three main categories – gender, geography and youth groups -- have been established to ensure all aspects are covered to make the assembly globally represented.
Training for the prospective assembly members is expected to start next month so that they will be ready when the second assembly convenes on July 30.