Children enjoy first-time visit to Silhouette |22 January 2011
The children are in the daytime care of the sisters at the Missionaries of Charity, Anse Etoile, during the school holidays.
The visit was organised by the Islands Development Company (IDC), whose deputy chief executive Ronny Renaud and public relations consultant Thelma Pool went with the children and staff from the charity.
The trip was one of the activities the IDC started last year to show its responsibility towards various sectors of society.
This time the company decided to take the children to Silhouette following President James Michel’s call to open up the island for Seychellois residents so they, too, can have a chance to visit.
A request had initially come from the Missionaries of Charity, and Mr Renaud said it was a good opportunity to respond to it through the initiative to allow local residents to visit the island.
On Silhouette the children were welcomed at the IDC’s guesthouse, where they got ready 
Gilbert Esparon, Silhouette’s manager, welcomed the visitors and accompanied them on the tour, along with Mr Renaud and Miss Pool, while giving details of the island’s history.
Among the places they visited were the old plantation house of Grande Case, the ruins of the building where copra was produced, and a mausoleum that holds the remains of the Dauban family.
The group also visited the island’s medical centre, the school – which has a multi-grading system – and the church, where a short prayer session was held.
Other activities during the day were lunch at the guesthouse and a visit to the newly built playground, which will soon have its official opening.
The visitors also saw a new guesthouse named La Belle Tortue, not far from the Grande Case.
Most of the children said the best part of the day was a visit to the five-star Labriz Silhouette Seychelles resort.
They toured the hotel in club cars, visiting most of the facilities such as the restaurants, spa and guest rooms.
The group were treated to a drink at the resort before heading back to the jetty for their return trip to Mahe.