Miss Seychelles … Another World 2016 |02 July 2016

Beauty queen presents halfway home project to private sector

Miss Seychelles ... Another World 2016 Christine Barbier has presented her ‘beauty with a purpose’ project to private contractors, businessmen and ministries’ representatives.

The presentation took place at the Seychelles Tourism Board’s (STB) premises at Espace Building yesterday.

Christine’s project involves the building of a halfway home for young people who leave orphanages or children’s homes at the age of 18.

Also present were the Minister for Tourism and Culture Alain St Ange, chief executive of STB Sherin Naiken and her deputy Nathalie Didon, and Christine’s mum.

“The halfway home will be a stepping home to help build the confidence of those young adults leaving the orphanages and also provide them with a temporary home over their head as they try to navigate and build a future for themselves,” said Christine when introducing her project.

She also believes the project will instill responsibility in these young people as they will also help in the maintenance of the halfway home.

As for the private sectors they believe it is a good project and gives them great pleasure to come on board to help.

On the community development part, special advisor Marie Josée Bonne advised that the project needs to be planned carefully so as to ensure sustainability.

As for Minister St Ange he said the project was already on the cards of the government but it never got off the ground.

“We have a chance this time to have a project that the government, that the country wants and being spearheaded by a young Seychellois,” said the minister.

He remarked this is the first time that we have a golden opportunity to make it happen.

He highlighted the importance of having such a home as kids who leave homes end up here and there and fall prey to social ills.

The minister also said it is planned to bring in a representative from the Miss World Beauty pageant to come here to help Christine in the laying of the foundation stone before she leaves for the pageant in December.

Minister St Ange also informed those present of a suggestion by the social affairs department to also have the home cater for battered persons, especially women, where they can spend a night or two.

He said the president is aware of the project and has already given his go-ahead as it was already on the cards. But he stressed on the need for government to act as facilitator and the private sector to run the home.

The next way forward explained Ms Naiken is to have a proper business plan to ensure feasibility and sustainability of the project.

This include the drawing of a plan; getting government approval as it will be more or less involved and  establishing a concept like how the building will look, how will it work, if the project is viable, costing and day to day running.