Youth Assembly celebrates its 15th anniversary |13 August 2018
The Seychelles National Youth Assembly (SNYA) celebrated its 15th anniversary with a symposium held at the Eden Blue Hotel, Eden 
Island, on Saturday afternoon.
The event was organised by the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC).
The SNYA is a non-political platform for youth, providing its members with the opportunity to nurture their knowledge and learning, as well as enabling them to develop their research and speaking skills.
Since its inception on July 30, 2003 by the then Minister for Education, former President James Michel, the SNYA has brought together 521 youths aged 15 to 30 years in fourteen cohorts. The SNYA provides a range of activities, locally and internationally, for the young people.
The first cohort was in 2004 with the National Assembly member for Anse Aux Pins, Clifford Andre, as the first speaker of the house, representing the same district at that time.
The speaker for the 2018 Youth Assembly is Roberto Legaie, also representing Anse Aux Pins. A cohort is for one year.
Some participants had had the chance to make it twice since starting at an early age.
The other past speakers are Roy Banane (2005-2006), Joseph Bibi (2006-2007), Sheryl Vangadasamy (2007-2008), Kevin Vidot (2008-2009), Jean-Marc Athanase (2009-2010), Vanessa Seth (2010-2011), Hansel Vidot (2012-2013), Ziggy Adam (2013-2014), Angeligue Pouponeau (2014-2015), Darrel Uranis (2015-2016), Jellissa Julie (2016-2017) and Shamira Basset (2017-2018).
Some youth assembly members, namely Clifford Andre, Kevin Vidot and Sheryl Vangadasamy, have even made it as their district’s representative in the country’s National Assembly.
Over the years, the SNYA, apart from the sittings, has been actively involved in various programmes and activities with different institutions and organisations.
It has held workshops, visited the community, educational and health institutions, old people’s homes and orphanages, where members interacted and engaged in voluntary work. They also visited work places and the prison.
Their working visits and other activities include Praslin and La Digue.
Some members also get to represent SNYA and Seychelles overseas.
In his opening remarks at the symposium, the chief executive of the SNYC, Alvin Laurence, said that SNYA has helped to blossom the society with the emergence of young leaders in the public service and with some as far as the National Assembly.
He also saluted SNYA’s contribution to Seychelles’ new democracy.
“As our democracy has developed, the need to respect and admire the opinions of others whether it is one that we share or not, has
become more and more important. I am happy to note that the SNYC through the SNYA has been able to contribute to that endeavour,” Mr Laurence said.
Mr Laurence paid tribute to all past and present members who have contributed towards the success of the SNYA and also conveyed the best wishes of Designated Minister Macsuzy Mondon to the young parliamentarians.
Minister Mondon, who is responsible for Home Affairs, Local Government, Youth, Sports & Culture, and Risk & Disaster Management, was not able to attend the symposium due to other commitments.
Naddy Zialor, a past deputy Speaker of the 8th cohort (2012-2013), said that what makes him feel honoured and happy about the SNYA is as a disabled person, he was regarded not by his physical appearance but as a young man with capacity and potential to deliver in making a difference in the lives of young people.
“This platform has been the key to our success. I hope we stay as a group of young people always with devotion, determination, that will bring positive changes in the lives of others,” he said, noting that he would like to see in future the representation of disabled persons in SNYA.
Another speaker at the event was the first female speaker, Sheryl Vangadasamy from the 4th cohort (2007-2008), who urged all past and present SNYA parliamentarians to join hands together to help combat social ills among young people.
Nissa Payet, also from the 4th cohort and later joining the 11th cohort (2015-16), gave a testimony of her journey in the two stages.
The event was spiced up by songs from singer Shane Farabeau, a poem by Shamira Baset and a marathon dance by a youth group from English River.
The activity ended with a cocktail reception and exhibition, followed by further entertainment.
Present at the symposium were the principal secretary for Youth and Sports, Fabien Palmyre; Chinese ambassador Yu Jinsong; the deputy chief executive of SNYC Ghislaine Belmont; the vice-chancellor of the University of Seychelles Justin Valentin; the manager of Eden island, Manuel Policarpo; high officials of SNYC; past and present SNYA parliamentarians; among other guests.
