Ports authority donates learning tools to schools |22 July 2014

Three schools on Mahé have received a donation of educational materials and other facilities from the Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA).

The schools which have benefitted from the donation – comprising toys, story books, computers and benches – are Takamaka, Anse Royale and Cascade primary.
The donation, which forms part of the SPA’s corporate social responsibility (CSR), is worth around R100,000.

The SPA, in its mandate to contribute towards the safeguarding of the economic gateway of Seychelles, considers education as the foundation from which the future of country is dependent upon.

In all its endeavours, the SPA leadership makes every effort to put its staff at the centre of its development and achievements, thus building on the blocks that schooling institutions have laid at the early stage of every Seychellois that works for this authority.

SPA understands that education is vital in the creation of more wealth for the country; where every citizen of Seychelles can exploit the opportunities created by Seychelles to work with more dedication and determination to bring more prosperity for themselves and their families, as well as for the country as a whole.  

In his speech, the chief executive of the SPA, Lieutenant Colonel Andre Ciseau, pointed out that the donation is the fruit of a direct, proactive and strong engagement between parents and teachers of the respective schools with the Seychelles Ports Authority, which has allowed the authority to assess the needs and responded in such a manner.

“It is important to note that primary schools have been especially chosen for this project because pupils at such tender age need extra educational materials and tools, as the greater part of their learning at this stage is through visual interactions. This donation will undoubtedly equip teachers with more tools in order to enhance delivery of daily lessons, thus facilitating pedagogical development in the classrooms,” Lt Col. Ciseau said.

The chief executive further stated that SPA plans to assist more primary schools with similar types of assistance before the end of this year.
In response to the donation, the head teacher of the Anse Royale primary school, Sonia Didon, made a very passionate vote of thanks as she expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the gesture made by SPA.

“Today’s gesture will make a big difference in the lives of the pupils who have benefitted from this donation.  We have been extremely touched by the vision of SPA to invest in the education of these young children,” she said.

She made an appeal to other organisations to emulate what SPA has done as part of supporting the good work that the schools and the Ministry of Education are doing in building up the nation through education.

After the donation, the children got a rare opportunity to tour the Mahé Quay and witnessed a tuna purse seiner unloading its cargo.

Celebrating its 10th year of existence this year, SPA is geared up to celebrate several milestones achieved during the past ten years including putting in place a robust human resource management and development programme, introduction of new and state of the art operational capacities as well as investment in modern port infrastructure.

SPA endeavours to continue to work to sustain its achievements, thus contributing more significantly towards the economic development of the country for many years to come.