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Outstanding Young Male Role Model Award |27 November 2015

Nelson Tamboo outshines

Nelson Tamboo, a 2nd year fine art student at the Seychelles Institute of Arts & Design, has clinched the Outstanding Young Male Role Model Award organised by the National Family Council.

In a ceremony held at the Seychelles Institute of Teacher  Education (Site) auditorium at Mont Fleuri yesterday afternoon, 16-year-old Mujaheed Robert, an S5 student from Mont Fleuri school and 17-year-old Christian Larue, an S5 student from Beau Vallon school, won 2nd and 3rd places respectively.

Altogether there were four finalists and 16-year-old Yannick Hollanda, an S5 student from Belonie school, was  among them.

The finalists were the best from their schools and they all received certificates and books as well.

The whole event was sponsored by the British high commission and Cable & Wireless Seychelles.

As Nelson was not present at the event, his mother Nicole Bonne collected his prizes.

Designated Minister and Minister responsible for Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports Vincent Meriton, the principal secretary for social affairs Linda William-Melanie, the British high commissioner to Seychelles Caron Röhsler pupils parents and teachers attended the event.

The aim of the award is to help develop and promote positive attitude and behaviour in our young boys and inspire them to become positive role models in society thus ensuring gender equality.

The award is a newly added segment of the Men’s Award which the National Family Council launched last year. But this year the above award itself will not take place because of the forthcoming election.

When he addressed everyone present Minister Meriton said it is encouraging to be hosting such an event during the ‘16 Days Activism Against Gender Violence’.

He noted that there are so many negative elements associated with and surrounding boys and men and it is good to focus on the fact that there are good things as well such as young men excelling in sports, in different forms of art as well as those who go to church and put their spirituality at the centre of everything they do.

“It is boys whom we want to see become young men and eventually responsible fathers and leaders that we are nurturing today. If we want to prepare role models we have to look at the good things and there are many good that should beget things happening around us in our families, communities and society and we should multiply them, Minister Meriton pointed out.

He added that if we want our young men to excel in their studies and in life we should give them the platform for them to develop to their full potential.

“If we want our young boys and eventually young men to respect our girls and women we must be role models and do the things that we expect of them later in their lives,” Minister Meriton told everyone present. He commended the Family Council for the great initiative.

Adding her voice to that of Minister Meriton, Ms Röhsler also praised the initiative to have such an award which she said the British high commission is delighted to support. Quoting Frederick Douglass, a 19th century Afro-American social reformer who once said “it is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men,” Ms Röhsler said the award recognises some of the  strong children this society has created.

Noting that Seychelles has made admirable progress in gender equality, Ms Röhsler said she has been very much impressed by the number of female ministers, parliamentarians and others in key positions.

“It has been a real pleasure to see proof that regardless of gender, all young Seychellois can aspire and all can achieve and this achievement is what we are recognising today,” she remarked.

The chairperson of the National Family Council, Robert Moumou, hailed the young boys and men who continue to lead by example wherever they are.

“Now more than ever we need to model the positive behaviour we want to see in upcoming generations of boys and men,” said Mr Moumou, who commended and encouraged last year’s Men’s award winners who are currently involved in mentoring programmes with children at the Foyer de Nazareth and the President’s Village.

He noted that there was a great need for such programmes which are being enormously appreciated.

The boys were chosen after they met all the criteria set in a form sent to the different schools which they filled voluntarily.

 

 

 

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