Praslin pupils learn more about the Vallée de Mai through holiday camp |11 September 2017
Praslin welcomes each day countless visitors, many of whom are eager to visit the Vallée de Mai and its ever so rich biodiversity of palms, birds, insects and other species. During the just ended school holidays, the garden, which is also a World Heritage Site, welcomed a group of primary school pupils from Praslin for a holiday camp.
Over a period of two weeks, the young learners carried out various activities at the garden during the day. They learned about various bird species, the two types of ecosystems found in the garden and how the various organisms interact with each other, the Aldabra Atoll also a World Heritage site, carried out various craft activities and visited other sites on other islands as well.
The group of 34 participants received their certificate of participation in a small ceremony last week at the World Heritage Site itself in the presence of their parents, facilitators, SIF staff and tourists who had come to tour the garden.
An exhibition showcasing the various ornaments and objects produced during the craft sessions had been set up and the learners proudly showed the invitees their work.
In his opening speech, Marc Jean-Baptiste, SIF’s site manager based at the Vallée de Mai, shared the SIF’s joy to welcome each August and December holidays cohorts of pupils and how there has been great improvement in the programme over time.
“This programme instils in our youth how they can better appreciate the environment from a very young age. As an outdoor classroom, the facilitators have worked very hard and the pupils have been very devoted as well. Our work in the Vallée de Mai is incomplete without you learners, the small voices that can go out into your community to spread the word about the importance of the Vallée de Mai and the need for it to be preserved for generations to come. You now become ambassadors of this garden which we have been confided with and which we must conserve,” Mr Jean-Baptiste shared.
On his part, Sonny Athanase, whose three daughters were very happy to participate in the programme, shared: “I was content to have my children take part in such a positive and educational programme over the school holidays and I would encourage other parents to consider it as well. They have learnt so much which I’m sure will be of great use to them in the future.”
This is the 11th such camp, which is an initiative of the SIF and is scheduled to continue over the upcoming December holidays.
Some of the ornaments and objects produced during the craft sessions
Text & photos: Nadia Bedier