Zambian youths find Seychelles experience enriching |07 September 2017

The Stand Up Step Up Seychelles (SUSUS) Association last week hosted nine Zambian delegates for a period of one week.

They arrived in the country on August 29 and left on September 4, 2017.

The Zambian delegates are part of the Jubilee Centre which is a Christian non-governmental organisation (NGO).

During their stay in Seychelles they led a youth and women empowerment symposium on August 30 where they encouraged Seychellois youth to engage in leadership and advocating roles as well as to take part in different peace movements and organisations to make an impact on their community.

On the same day, the young delegates had the opportunity to interact with locals and experience the Creole cuisine and music at the Bazar Labrin at Beau Vallon.

They even danced around the bonfire as the locals beat the moutya drums.

The following two days they engaged in cultural tours in Victoria and other site visits assisted by a youth worker from the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC).

On September 2, they held a half-day session with the Seychelles National Youth Assembly (SNYA) members where they exchanged experiences on the impact of youth parliaments and learn how a national youth parliament can be implemented in Zambia.

Following the meeting, the delegates enjoyed a small picnic on the Port Launay beach together with the members of SNYA and SUSUS.

They then spent a delightful evening in Perseverance at the Joseph Sinon show which provided a more relaxed ambiance for them to interact with the locals.

On Sunday, they got a chance to discover the historical and touristic sites through a tour of the island.

Before they departed on Monday, the delegates met the principal secretary for youth and sports Fabien Palmyre to discuss about various issues faced by the youth in Zambia. They also had a chat about their experience being in Seychelles and how they benefitted from the trip, as well as how Seychellois youth could benefit from an exchange to Zambia.

The SUSUS chairperson Trevor Louise expressed on behalf of the delegates how being in Seychelles was a truly great experience for them as some of them  have never had their feet in the sea before and some have never even left their country prior to this.

He said the SUSUS community is visiting the possibility to have an exchange visit to Zambia in December therefore they are lobbying for sponsorship to facilitate members with the tickets or any form of donation which will benefit the Zambian youth such as stationery.

“Any donation which would contribute to the development of the country and their youth would be greatly appreciated as we feel that the African continent has great potential and it should be recognised to the fullest,” he said.

The accompanying photos show some of the highlights of the Zambian youths’ visit here.