First youth outreach programme for year launched |21 April 2015

The first outreach programme ‘En Dekouvert Eksitan’ for S1 students and teachers from public schools on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue was launched during a short ceremony at the English River secondary school yesterday morning.
 
Some 900 students are taking part in the programme which starts today. During the ceremony, a representative of the Seychelles Trading Company (STC), Raymond Simeon, presented some 1,300 rucksacks to Maria Rath, the focal person for English River school.

Present at the launch ceremony was the principal secretary for Youth, Alain Volcère, the deputy chief executive of the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC) Alvin Laurence, STC representatives, teachers, students as well as youth officials and other guests.

Proposed and administered by the youth department, the SNYC and the Ministry of Education, the outreach programme seeks to reach out to the students in this very delicate age category and present them an outdoor learning opportunity in an out-of-class environment where important values and life skills are being taught.

Like last year, the students will spend a whole day visiting different sites like the Vallée de Mai and institutions such as the Seychelles Defence Academy (SDA). While activities on Mahe will kick off today, those on Praslin will be conducted on May 5-6.

Students will be able to acquaint themselves with the inherent discipline which characterises the defence forces through a one-day exposure at the military establishment where they will be able to learn the functions of the various units, their history and operations as well as the career opportunities that the organisation has on offer.

Another group will be led on a guided tour of the Vallée de Mai on Praslin where they will discover and learn more about the environmental treasures and endemic species which are found within this Unesco world heritage site. At this early age, it is important to inculcate in them a sense of responsibility towards the protection of our natural heritage and to have them involved directly in the forefront of ongoing conservation efforts.

Talking at the launch of the programme yesterday, English River school’s deputy head teacher for S1-S3, Marianne Payet, reminded the students that they are privileged to have such an enriching programme which will help them  discover  their country as well as help them in their studies.

After handing over the rucksacks, Mr Simeon for his part commended the partnership between the youth department and STC which he said will continue to honour its commitment towards the community. This is the second time the STC makes such a donation to the programme.  

“We believe that there is great change happening in our youths and this is demonstrated in the good values that are being entrusted in all of you and we hope that the programme will bring out more of those good virtues,” Mr Simeon said.

Valerie Jumeau, the programme’s co-coordinator, made a slideshow presentation on the previous activities in the programme from last year’s holidays before unveiling the outreach logo designed by Fabrice Nicole, an S2 student from Beau Vallon. The logo will be printed on the T-shirts and caps the students will be wearing during all the outreach activities.

Ruth Barbé, a social science teacher who has accompanied the students on all the three outreach programmes, made a testimony of her experience.
“We teachers are enriched in a way that is not always possible in the classroom,” said Ms Barbé, while she encouraged more involvement from both teachers and students.

At the end of the ceremony, students recited poems, performed songs as well as made a vote of thanks to express their gratitude to STC, Air Seychelles and Cat Cocos which continue to support the programme with transport, logistics and other items.