UP CLOSE … with Ziggy Adam, outgoing speaker of the 10th National Youth Assembly |25 February 2014

‘Ambition for me is the zeal and passion to focus on one’s goal’

By Marie-Anne Lepathy

Though tall, lean, confident and serious-looking, he is a friendly, welcoming and easy to talk to young man, propelled in the limelight last year after he was elected speaker of the 10th National Youth Assembly.

Ziggy Adam is a young man who describes himself as someone who derives great joy and passion in everything he does.

“This increases my performance and gives me the edge,” he says.

Now that his one-year mandate as the speaker of the National Youth Assembly has come to its term following the last sitting held recently, I was eager to know more about this serious young man who was also privileged to represent Seychelles, together with fellow youth colleague Beryl Payet, at the Commonwealth Youth Forum held on the margins of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka in November last year.

Childhood and education

Born Ziggy Steven Leandre Adam, he is the third in a family of four siblings – two elder sisters, both married, and a younger brother who has just started post-secondary school.

Ziggy lives at Beau Vallon, more precisely in a sub-district which many people are not so familiar with, and this is Berlin.

He attended Beau Vallon school before choosing the School of Advanced Level Studies (Sals) to pursue his studies at post-secondary level. There he studied geography, chemistry and biology, after which he followed a course in IT with the Ministry of Education before choosing, through his own initiative, to study law.

Now aged 22, Ziggy has for the past few months been working as a legal officer with the Fair Trading Commission (FTC).  Before that he was a court interpreter for two and a half years at the Seychelles Judiciary while he was studying law.

Ziggy, who also considers himself as serious and hardworking, believes his outstanding youth leadership skills and his remarkable social and intellectual qualities, active involvement in different youth programmes made him and a group of other youths eligible candidates to be nominated and then elected speaker, deputy speaker, clerk and deputy clerk of the 10th National Youth Assembly. Ziggy believes he owes his love for hard work to his mother, a very hard worker herself.

As for being friendly and welcoming, the young man does not consider those as special characteristics or qualities because for him they should be the norms for everyone.

Experience as National Youth Assembly speaker

Ziggy still vividly recalls the day he was elected speaker of the National Youth Assembly in March last year.

“We had been briefed about the procedures. I was nominated by two members of the group, and we had to campaign for votes. The campaign was swift, and in the end I acquired the role and title.  

Nathanielle Crispin from Grand Anse Praslin was elected deputy speaker, Catherine Didon of Bel Air clerk and Shabella Etienne from Bel Ombre deputy clerk,” he says.

But what kind of experience does Ziggy have to share a year later?

“The 10th National Youth Assembly I would say has been quiet during our mandate, but we have been working as hard as time permitted us. We had objectives, plans and visions. One of our best efforts which gave results was the visits and education sessions we organised for secondary schools students. We started at Belonie secondary school, gaining support and access from the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC) and Young Citizens’ movement representatives from the schools,” he explains.

“This is something I personally enjoyed the most; aside from being a person who likes to talk, I felt like I was able to give something to the next generation. We talked about the National Youth Assembly, post-secondary education, career choices and the different social ills affecting the youths and society such as drug abuse.

“In the end, we sort of became a little bit famous among those who were interested,” Ziggy points out.

“We’ve planned to keep doing this activity even after our mandate, and if possible in collaboration with the next Youth Assembly,” Ziggy explains.

“The National Youth Assembly took part in many youth-based activities in Seychelles and this led to its recognition as a responsible group by most institutions and bodies including the National Assembly of Seychelles,” he adds.

“Furthermore we also received positive responses from respective ministries and institutions regarding   the different motions we tabled and deliberated on during our mandate and for me this was also an achievement,” he points out.

“But personally being appointed as a member of the Media Advisory Committee of the Commonwealth Youth Council, and as the youth representative and liaison youth personnel for Seychelles brought me great fulfillment,” Ziggy says.

Being at the head of the Youth Assembly Ziggy believes that failure to meet the full expectations of the youths in the different districts and institutions have been among their greatest shortcomings.

“Although not expressed, we know that if we were the youths out there, we would be dissatisfied with the work as we would be expecting more. However, during the past year I know the 10th Youth Assembly did its best and gave its all.”

Ziggy believes that the National Youth Assembly is a very good platform and forum for youth development and advancement.

“The Youth Assembly is mostly an educational forum where the youths learn and develop research and speaking skills, where they can voice out the opinions of fellow youths from around the country, raise awareness and provide effective suggestions as solutions for youth based issues, while learning advocacy and leadership skills,” Ziggy points out.

 “Youths, being the future generation and future leaders of the country, are tasked to not only maintain the economy, social standards and technology of the society, but to promote its growth and advancement. Therefore we need the baggage, we need the support to show us the way to progress,” he stresses.

He notes also that as speaker of the Youth Assembly, he has been able to do things that regrettably he was only wishing he could do and this thanks to the support he got.

“Most of the time, if you don’t have sufficient respect or support, as a young person, your opinions and ideas may not really go very far and may never be heard.”

As a young parliamentarian, Ziggy says he worked closely with elder peers of the National Assembly of Seychelles.

“We were expected to be in close contact with the member of the National Assembly in our respective districts. I don’t know how close the other Youth Assembly members have been to their MNAs but mine involved me in various events and activities which is necessary for my personal growth,” Ziggy explains.

He says members of the Youth Assembly were also very much involved in the major events organised by the National Assembly namely the ‘Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Africa Region’, and the launch of the book ‘The National Assembly of Seychelles – A Guide’.

Ziggy admits that if he had the opportunity he would without hesitation choose another mandate.

“If I had the opportunity, while not reducing fellow youths’ opportunities, I would indeed choose another mandate. This is because, as I have said, although we did what we could, we are not satisfied yet with our work. However, we entrust that the next mandated group will carry on the work as we proceed to the next level and make the most of opportunities available. But in all, it was fun and rewarding and while I enjoyed it so much, I would like my successors to enjoy the experience as much as I have,” Ziggy muses.
 
Ambition, career and personal development

A member of the Grace and Peace Baptist Church, Ziggy is considered by his friends to be very religious because he takes part actively in the church programmes and activities, devoting around a third of his time there.

“But all I have to say is that my belief is not a religion,” he points out.

A good guitarist, Ziggy plays in his church gospel band called Omega. The band also sometimes perform gospel shows around the island.

Asked if he is an ambitious person, Ziggy says: “I believe I am as ambitious as much as anyone should be, or already is. Ambition for me is not about reaching the top where there is no one else above you, but it is the zeal, enthusiasm and passion to focus on your goal, which whether big or small depends on you and the importance you and not society attach to it.”

As a message to fellow youths Ziggy has this to say: “While also reminding myself that there is fun in doing things noble, there is joy in being bright, there is reward in following orders, there is also satisfaction and exceptionality in creating your own path. Most important of all, always think of God in everything you do.”

Plans for the future

Remaining focused on issues that touch the youth and being a person involved in decision-making with regard to such issues forms part of the young man’s future plans.

Currently Ziggy is the chairperson of the Beau Vallon District Youth Committee which is responsible to plan, host and promote youth-based activities in the district mostly with the help of the National Youth worker.

“Career-wise I intend to enhance my abilities in the legal field, while embracing upcoming opportunities. God has always guided my path,” Ziggy says thoughtfully.

Family life and leisure
A sports lover, Ziggy used to train in an athletics’ team, Shooting Star, before he started studying law. His speciality was 400m sprint.

“I also love football and volleyball and when I can I play with my brother, brother-in-law and friends,” he adds.

Ziggy admits that when it comes to home chores most of the time he is idle especially during weekdays.

“This is because I don’t get home early enough to be able to do anything, my mother usually gets everything done. I’m not very proud of that though but during weekends, especially Saturdays, I clean the outside of the house and do anything else my mother assigns. But sometimes I am not present on Saturdays and this is because of assembly sittings and district activities,” he says.

As for socialising, Ziggy says often it is hard to find the right topics on which to talk to different people.

“Avoiding an awkward silence is in itself a task for most people. I socialise with work mates, and fellow brothers and sisters from the church. We often have picnics where we invite different people, we call it fellowshipping. My favourite way to meet and hang out with other people is through sports,” Ziggy says.

With regard to social media networks, Ziggy believes they are good ways to socialise though he says they limit the development of a social relationship.

He admits though that going out with friends in the evening most often ends up with him sleeping even before they get to any destination.

“But I still hang out with my old school friends, old workmates, and new workmates. Often I meet new people by doing just that,” says Ziggy.