H Resort purchases locally made reusable bags |29 March 2018

The H Resort at Bel Ombre has supported the use of re-usable bags which will be supplied to their guests and also aimed at raising awareness about the use of alternatives against plastic bags.

The bags were produced by a group of unemployed Seychellois youth through a Sids-Youth Aims Hub (SYAH) Seychelles pilot project called ‘Sea you in Seychelles’

In February this year, the six young people took part in sewing workshops conducted by Veronica Moustache and they even had other experts from Small Enterprise Promotion Agency (Senpa), Seychelles Investment Board (SIB), AYES and the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) speak to them about entrepreneurship opportunities.

H Resort is the official partner of the community project ‘Sea You In Seychelles’ which comprises three phases including the production of some 100 locally made reusable bags, a training in entrepreneurship and finally the certificate-giving ceremony.

The sum of R25,000 raised through the purchase of the bags by H Resort will go towards sustaining the project into a second phase.

During the handing over ceremony at H Resort on Sunday, the partnership was officially launched and certificates were presented to the young members ‒ Emilio Estico, Meline Banane, Enya Thelermont, Shanila Benoit, Axelle Bodwell and Ella Salomon.

The bags were handed over to the general manager of H Resort Johannes Steyn by the co-founder of SYAH Seychelles, Anaelle Bodwell.

A promotional video highlighting the project’s success was also viewed during the ceremony and the vote of thanks was delivered by Emilio Estico.

Ms Bodwell announced that the project will be further promoted in Qatar this week at the Green Economy, Business and Entrepreneurship symposium being held at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University where SYAH Seychelles will be promoting its other environmental projects.

“The important message we want to convey with this project is that sustainability is the answer to a number of societal issues such as youth unemployment,” she said.

“The bags are 100% locally made, reusable and made from local materials and made by our own Seychellois youth,” Ms Bodwell said.

She added that the youth should come forward and show interest in such an initiative as the project has given others the necessary skill and inspiration to pursue their own dreams

On his part, Mr Steyn said for H Resort it is very important to be involved in community project as these bags will contribute a great deal to keep the beaches cleaner and also give the young people projects to work on.

Ms Moustache said she was nervous as she had never taught a class before but previously worked with SYAH Seychelles helping them to sew reusable bags while she was serving a prison sentence.