Kempinski hotel marks Children’s Day in exceptional way |08 June 2013

A mixture of pupils, teachers, Kempinski staff and a group of Swedish student teachers filled the hall with singing, dancing and other fun activities, and the hotel group put up a sumptuous lunch for all who attended.

After a special assembly, the children took their seats in the dining hall and took part in various activities. The highlight of the event was the moutya dance, where the eager Swedish students learned some traditional Creole dance moves from the patient teachers.

There was also enthusiastic participation in the karaoke activity by the children, who were keen to show off their knowledge of local popular songs, to the encouragement and applause of all who were present.

Kempinski’s people services director, Jeanette Rath, said that sponsoring the children’s fête was part of several corporate social activities the hotel organises every year, and added that the staff members always look forward to sharing Children’s Day with the school.

“We came here last year, and it was such a success that we want to do this here every year,” said Ms Rath.

The school’s head teacher, Monica Accouche, said the school was fortunate to have the support of the Kempinski Hotel and expressed the wish that they would return to celebrate once more next year and in the years to come.

The Swedish teachers and student teachers also made the most of the festive air to demonstrate their appreciation to the staff and children of the school for hosting them. They presented Ms Accouche and the teachers with gifts, and to the children they handed over a bag full of indoor hockey sticks and balls with matching team jerseys, which the pupils happily pulled on. The student teachers showed the children some incredibly deft moves with the ball.

The last day of the Swedish students’ at school was Thursday and they left Seychelles yesterday.

Ms Accouche described their visit as very fruitful, and said the visiting teachers and students had learned a lot.

“They use technology for special needs education, but we are using manipulative tools, such as toys, lego bricks and other things the children can touch and feel, so this is very different to what they are doing in Sweden,” said the head teacher.