International Children’s Festival in Normandy, France – June 1-12 |17 April 2015

12 Seychellois children to display folklore and talent

Twelve Seychellois children will showcase their talent and the country’s folklore during the International Children’s Festival from June 1-12, 2015 in Normandy, France.

It’s the Office of the Ambassador for Women and Children which has received the invitation to attend the International Children’s Festival and this follows the success of Seychelles’ involvement at the 4th International Children’s Friendship Festival held in Seattle, Washington State, USA in April 2013, and the 36th International Children’s Festival held in Gaziantep, Turkey in April 2014.

Children aged 10 to 13 years were called upon to step up for a chance to visit the historical region of Normandy, France and more than 50 children responded to the call this past February. Following successful auditions, 12 lucky and very talented children were chosen as finalists and are in the throes of rehearsals under the tutelage of Bennet Accouche and Marianne Amade.

The highlight of this festival in Normandy, other than the exchanges our children will have and the performance of our folkloric and traditional dance, will be the presence of Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi, both laureates of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014.  Those taking part will learn about human rights, children’s rights and the value of tolerance and peace in the world. Similarly, they will learn and get to understand the philosophy of Alfred Nobel, as well as the works of Pierre de Coubertin, a French educator and historian, and founder of the International Olympic Committee. Baron de Coubertin is also considered the father of the modern Olympic Games.

The Ambassador for Women and Children’s Affairs, Dr Erna Athanasius, said the children will be hosted in Normandy where they will also get the chance to visit a couple of schools in Rouen, and have cultural and sporting exchanges with other children from several other countries, including India and Pakistan, as well as those from Normandy. This exposure will ultimately lead to the sharing of experiences with the other children in their districts, on their return home.

“Seychelles, being a Small Island Developing State (Sids) and a founder of the Indian Ocean Commission (Commission de l’Océan Indien – COI) is considered a champion in the fight against global warming and protection of the environment, and our children will be true little ambassadors of the causes of our beloved Sids, too,” Ambassador Athanasius said.

Ambassador Athanasius mentioned that she is immensely grateful for the pledges and many sponsorships already received from some local businesses and organisations, each of which will be presented with a certificate of appreciation at a charity show on May 9 at the ICCS. This year, in lieu of Amigos, it will be the Breeze music group sponsoring the show. Tickets are at R125 only and all monies collected from sales will be donated to the International Children’s Friendship Festival Fund.

The Ambassador also expressed her sincere appreciation for the wonderful collaboration and support received from the JJ Spirit Foundation and the honorary consul for Seychelles in France, Francis Herbet, who organised this encounter, as well as our honorary consul in Tanzania, Maryvonne Pool, who has indeed been a faithful sponsor and partner in this endeavour, since the very first festival involvement organised in Seattle, within the remit of the Office of the Ambassador for Women and Children, in 2013. Our honorary consuls in Turkey have been equally supportive of the festival involvement as Turkey is the country where the International Children’s Festival was actually founded, on April 23, 1920.

Ambassador Athanasius has also revealed that as Seychelles’ involvement was so successful in previous years, with this third event, the International Children's Friendship Festival has already established itself as an annual event on the calendar for Seychellois children to aspire to and she calls on all those within the required age group to work hard for the next audition this coming November/December 2015, in preparation for the next International Children’s Festival elsewhere.