Women rewarded for service to community |10 March 2014

Six women have been rewarded for their service and contribution to their community.

They are Anita Gardner (Health and Social Development award), Edwina Adrienne (Community Empowerment), Christel Jacques (Protection of the Environment), Anne Noelia Souris (Peace and Harmony Initiatives), Jessy Freminot (Promoting Art and Seychellois Culture) and Lucy Hickerson-Luc (Promotion and Development of Small Enterprises).

They received their awards at the Seychelles Women’s Community Awards presentation ceremony held on Saturday during a Women’s Day ball.

The event, which took place at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort & Casino, was organised by the Seychelles Women’s Day Association (SWDA) to celebrate the International Women’s Day on March 8.

The Seychelles Women’s Community Awards 2013 is an initiative of the SWDA to recognise the involvement of women who are making a difference in the local communities. It is also an opportunity to appreciate women who have their community at heart and work tirelessly and selflessly to make it a better place.

After the award was launched last December, members of the public were asked to nominate the woman they feel deserve an award from six categories – Health and Social Development; Community Empowerment; Promotion and Development of Small Enterprises; Protection of the Environment; Peace and Harmony Initiatives and Promoting Art and Seychellois Culture.

There were over a hundred nominees, among whom the six winners and runners-up were chosen.

The winners received two trophies, a certificate, cash prize and a book on State House while the runners-up won a trophy, certificate, cash prize and a book on Seychelles.

The runners-up in the different categories are Julith Cedras (Health and Social Development), Jeanne D’arc Gerry (Community Empowerment), Elvina Henriette (Protection of the Environment), Verusca Hoareau (Peace and Harmony Initiatives), Georgine Robert (Promoting Art and Seychellois Culture). There was no runner-up in the category Promotion and Development of Small Enterprises.

Addressing the audience before the award presentation, SWDA chairperson Jeanne Simeon said:

“The SWDA is this evening through the Seychelles Women’s Community Awards celebrating acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who are playing an extraordinary role to make a difference in their community.”

“I would also like to thank everyone who has worked hard to make this award and this event successful, especially the Seychelles Trading Company for being our major sponsor for the awards,” Mrs Simeon added.

Seychelles Nation will give more details on the winners in a future issue.