Youths set to tackle environmental issues |16 July 2012

This environmental youth forum is to serve as a non-partisan national forum for youth to network, debate, and take action on environmental problems.

It will also provide a focal point for youths to share their concerns about environmental issues and their ideas on how to resolve them with decision-makers in the country.

The organisation is being set up with the support of the Wildlife Club Seychelles (WCS) but it is anticipated that eventually it will become an independent non-governmental organisation, run for and by youths.

An information session for interested youth was held at the Liaison Unit of Non-Governmental Organisations of Seychelles at Orion Mall. There was a great turnout of some 60 youngsters from secondary and post secondary schools as well as others who are already in the workforce. 

Those young people came up with a list of activities they wanted to do.  Following this positive response, the WCS organised a one-day workshop at Ephelia Resort recently to allow them to further develop their action plan, get to know one another better, and start to formalise the group.  Vanessa Roseline, a University of Seychelles student and long time youth environmental advocate was voted as the interim leader for the organisation, and several other youths were chosen to form a core team to work together with Vanessa to get the group off the ground.

The group has already formulated an action plan, which is broken down into four main objectives: 
1) Establish the youth forum (find a name, create a logo, develop a constitution and register the group as an NGO)

2) Provide training for forum members (in diplomacy, environmental issues, good governance, communications, etc.)

3) Provide opportunities to network and have fun around environmental themes (e.g. symposia, rallies, competitions, talent shows, hikes, conservation action, etc.)

4) Raise awareness about environmental issues in Seychelles and internationally (through printed materials, blog, Facebook, YouTube, etc.)

This initiative is the result of a project called “Raise Your Voice!” being carried out by the WCS to empower youths to take part more actively in sustainable development decision-making.  The project is being funded by the European Union under the 10th European Development Fund Seychelles Good Governance Programme.  The workshop was sponsored by Constance Ephelia Resort of Seychelles, who have been working in partnership with the wildlife clubs for the past three years.

For more information about the new environmental youth forum or to join, please contact Vanessa Roseline on Tel: 2746465 (email: vanessa_roseline@hotmail.com) or Terence Vel, WCS Coordinator on Tel: 2719047 (email: wildlifeclubsofseychelles@gmail.com).