Philip Barbé outstanding male role model 2017 |20 November 2017

● Zerane Ah-Kong wins junior title

Fifty-four-year-old Philip Barbé of the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces and also manager of the Red Star Defence Forces football club is the outstanding adult male role model for the year 2017.

Mr Barbé was crowned by Family Affairs Minister Jeanne Siméon on Saturday evening during the fourth National Men’s Awards ceremony at the Eden Bleu Hotel where young Zerane Ah-Kong also picked up the junior award.

Mr Barbé surpassed four other finalists – Kevin Perrine of United Concrete Products Seychelles (fifth), Glenny Gamatis of the National Information Services Agency (fourth), Michel Marcel of the National Agency for Social Protection (third) and Steven Larue of Fregate Island Private (second).

Organised by the National Family Council of Seychelles (NFCS), the event is in commemoration of the International Men’s Day celebrated on November 19 and this year’s theme is ‘Celebrating Men & Boys’.

Sixteen-year-old Zerane Ah-Kong, a secondary five student of Belonie secondary school, clinched the outstanding young male role model award for 2017.

Zerane also outclassed four other finalists from other secondary schools – Tyrone Adelaide of Grand Anse Praslin, Anil Buron of Beau Vallon, Darryl Adolphe of Plaisance and Richie Lespoir of English River.

Also present for the ceremony were NFCS chairman Robert Moumou, other officials of the council, spouses, organisations’ representatives, parents, relatives of the awardees and last year’s outstanding winners Jude Raoul (senior) and David Boniface (junior).

Speaking to Seychelles NATION, Mr Barbé recounted what he did to win such an award.

“I work a lot with the youth and take part in many activities with them. I train people and help them change their negative lifestyle and character. I guide them to become good people in society,” said Mr Barbé.

Apart from working with the young from the SPDF, he also works with church groups where they visit homes and families and get involved in voluntary work.

“This is something I love doing. I did not expect to win as there were many awardees. As I am the winner, I thank God for that,” he said.

Mr Barbé has thanked his family, his work organisation which has helped him grow to become who he is today.

As for Zerane, he is courteous towards both his school mates and staff and is always displaying a high level of responsibility in school. He has been a prefect since he was in secondary two and both staff and his school mates can rely on him at any time.

“I was not expecting the outstanding prize. What I did was help people, contributed a lot towards my school through public speaking, made my school come out first in different competitions, took part in a lot in activities like camping organised by the Young Citizens,” said Zerane.

The 16-year-old added that he has also helped his school mates who were being led astray by others to follow the right path.

“I hope they continue to do so,” he said.

International Men’s Day is celebrated around the world and has as objectives to promote male role models, to celebrate the contributions men make in society, to focus on men’s health and well-being, to highlight discrimination against men and the inequalities that men and boys face, to improve gender relations and promote gender equality, and to create a safer world for everyone.

In the context of Seychelles, the National Men’s Awards has some long term objectives which are to reverse the negative images of men in Seychelles, to inspire and motivate boys and men to work hard and even harder, to inspire and promote gender equality for men in Seychelles and to highlight, reward and celebrate positive male role models in the country.

“National Men’s Day is also an occasion for men to celebrate their achievements and contributions in particular to their community, family, marriage and child care while also highlighting discriminations against men,” said Mr Moumou.

He spoke about the worldwide statistics including in Seychelles which state that men’s health is worse than that of their female counterparts.

He pointed out that according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) male life expectancy is lower worldwide and also work place fatalities, suicide rates are alarmingly higher than for the female gender.

“All of these call for concern and require attention. However tonight we have to focus on the positive. Tonight is a time to celebrate,” he said.

Tony Raspyek Joubert and Clifford Mellow Alexis performed poems and songs during the ceremony.