Department of the Blue Economy creates youth group |20 May 2020

A team of five young people have been chosen to form part of the department of the Blue Economy youth advocacy group.

They are Laurent Valentin, Jean-François Lepathy, Pearl Bastienne, Mario Desaubin, and Gabriella Gonthier.

The team is expected to provide logistical and technical assistance to facilitate the implementation of the Blue Economy Framework and Roadmap and promote the principles of the Blue Economy in different media.

The goal is to prompt the youth from diverse backgrounds to start a trend where the younger generation are more interested and involved in the development of the Blue Economy in Seychelles.

The group will be trained for ocean governance through mentorship from staff of the department of the Blue Economy. As part of their duties, the team will inspire their peers in Seychelles, regionally and also on the international fora.

The creation of the group is in response to the commitment made to the African Union and it is also stipulated in the Blue Economy Strategic Policy Framework and Roadmap.

“The success of the Blue Economy in sustaining Seychelles’ future socio-economic development rests in the hands of the youth. We are committed to supporting the aspirations of all the youth to be our ocean ambassadors, and to empower them to take over from us in leading our country and the next generation into a sustainable ocean future,” Vice-President Vincent Meriton said.

The department of the Blue Economy has the responsibility to spread awareness and understanding of the Blue Economy, its benefits to everyday life and beyond, to the general public. The team is expected to bolster these efforts.

Press release from the department of the Blue Economy