Wildlife club celebrates 20th anniversary |14 July 2014

The Wildlife Club of Seychelles is 20 years old – a milestone it celebrated on Saturday July 12 during a festival at the University of Seychelles.

For this festival, a show was performed at the university’s auditorium and different wildlife clubs from various schools as well as environmental organisations set up stalls around the Anse Royale campus to promote and educate about the environment. There was even a debate on sea turtles.  

One of the wildlife clubs present was from the Montessori early learning centre, named ‘The Little Snappers Wildlife Club’ which has been running for over 16 years.  

The club’s spokesperson explained that the youngsters from two to six years old actually become very involved and that it is important to get the children to understand about environmental issues at a young age, as they are more likely to grow up remembering these values.

They also strongly believe in having interactive classes outside in nature where the children can experience and learn by using their five senses.
Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports Minister Vincent Meriton who was also present at the event took the opportunity to launch the environmental Law and Citizenship Booklet.

This booklet is designed to be a tool for environmental citizenship, it is intended not just for members of the wildlife club but for everyone who cares and wants to do something about it.

“We need generation of young people who have a basic understanding of our environmental laws and who are willing to help ensure that these laws are being upheld by all sectors of society, a generation of environmental citizens, and I am certain this book will help us achieve this objective,” he said.

Minister Meriton paid a special tribute to all the founding members of the wildlife club and those who kept it alive, especially the coordinator of the Wildlife Club, Terrence Vel.

On his part, Mr Vel said that it has been challenging as well as rewarding during these past few years.
He highlighted that the support they received from school was something which was much needed.
For the future, they hope that their new partnership with the UniSey will help them achieve goals when it comes to research in the science programme.

As rivers are part of our heritage and a resource which was widely used in the past, they hope to conduct research on our rivers, water and climate change in Seychelles.