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Archive - Archive 2004 - July 2013

Volunteer initiative launched as delegation set for Maldives |17 January 2005

Volunteer initiative launched as delegation set for Maldives

The nine solidarity relief volunteers with Captain Savy (fourth from right) and Minister Faure

Hundreds of young people – all dressed in new, custom-printed T-shirts with the slogan “Let us bounce back” across the front – descended on the International Conference Centre for a ceremony to launch the Youth Department’s Youth Volunteerism Initiative.

At the ceremony, Air Seychelles executive chairman Captain David Savy presented nine air tickets to the delegation, which will conduct a solidarity relief mission in the Maldives, which was badly hit by tidal waves on December 26.

Air Seychelles is also providing tickets for a humanitarian team from South African-based Global Relief. Captain Savy said although Seychelles was not spared from the disaster, “we cannot help but be compassionate towards those who have been worst affected.”

Thursday evening’s ceremony also served as the launch for volunteer work to begin in an attempt to restore normalcy on the local front as well.

Youth principal secretary Alain Volcere said a number of different youth organisations – including the Young Citizens Movement, the President’s Award Scheme and others – would be participating in the initiative.

He said sites for projects to clean and help out in the community would be organised through the local government department and district administrations.

Mr Volcere said the launch was a timely one given all the work that needed to be done in response to damage caused by the tsunami, but that the initiative would actually continue on into other areas of community service in the future.

With morale in the country thought to be somewhat low, the PS said that the initiative was a way for youths to “come to the forefront and lift our spirits.”

The ceremony, which was attended by Minister of Education and Youth Danny Faure, was marked by performances by Michelle Marengo, Jean Ally and the Mahe Chamber Choir.

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