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Archive - Archive 2004 - July 2013

New Youth Assembly sworn in with Hansel Vidot as speaker |02 April 2012

New Youth Assembly sworn in with Hansel Vidot as speaker

Members of the ninth assembly in a souvenir picture with Vice-President Faure, Designated Minister Meriton and National Assembly Speaker, Dr Herminie and other guests

The inauguration of the ninth assembly was held in the presence of Vice-President Danny Faure and Designated Minister Vincent Meriton. Also there were the speaker of the National Assembly Dr Patrick Herminie, Education Minister Macsuzy Mondon and her principal secretary Merida Delcy. The Seychelles National Youth Council chief executive Vicky van der Westhuizen also attended the ceremony along with other high ranking government officials.

During the election of the in-house bearers Nancy Cedras was elected deputy speaker, Erol Sophola as clerk and Beguitta Melanie as deputy clerk.

Over 25 members of this ninth assembly received their badges whereas the outgoing representatives were presented with certificates.

Mrs van der Westhuizen told the new members that the youth assembly is a platform which gives “our youths the chance to discuss and bring forth national concerns relating to the youths”.

This platform allows them to learn more about leadership and develop their skills in research and analysis, she added.
She encouraged them to listen carefully to concerns of the youths in their own communities and to remain in close contact with them.

She also thanked the outgoing members of the eighth cohort for their remarkable work and wished the new ones success.
Mr Vidot told his colleagues that together they will strive for Seychelles and work hard so as to feel proud and satisfied after their one-year mandate.

“We have been chosen to become the voice of other youths out there and we have to take this opportunity by ensuring their concerns are put forward.”

Outgoing speaker Vanessa Seth said the eighth cohort pledged to remain connected, positively involved and continue to be role models in the society.

Miss Seth said they have many propositions for the SNYA which include evolving it from being an educational activity to progressively assume the role of a youth affairs consultative forum proposing ideas to government youth organisations.
Members of the new SYNA met a few days earlier to prepare for the swearing in, when trainer Jeanette Ali told them the induction “is a normal procedure prior to joining the Assembly”.

This included a full-day training followed by a mock-sitting in the afternoon.
“We invited a group from the eighth Youth Assembly to give presentations and explain to our new recruits what their roles are as speaker, deputy or any other titles within the Assembly,” she said.

She also said being active as youths in the districts is among some of the criteria for joining the SNYA.
“We often get asked why some people are often refused entrance and this is one of the reasons.”

Mrs Ali said, in this way, young people from the community get to know who will be representing them and have trust in the person bringing their debates to the table.

The new recruits also learned the step by step moves of being sworn in as they prepared for Saturday’s event.

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