St Ange housing estate playground opens |14 October 2020

The children enjoying their new playground (Photo: Thomas Meriton)

The St Ange housing estate playground officially opened its gates yesterday to the delight of Takamaka’s youngest.

The opening of the brand new playground in the most southern district of Mahé was attended by a large number of Takamaka children who welcomed the playground with dances and song.

The project falls under the department of local government’s national initiative to contribute to positive early childhood development in communities.

Present at the ceremony were Designated Minister Macsuzy Mondon, principal secretary for local government Marie-Celine Vidot-Jeannevole, district administrator (DA) for Takamaka Delna Larue and director general of the community development programme Raymonde Benstrong among other invited guests.

The playground was officially opened by Designated Minister Mondon and it was Reverend Christine Benoit, Anglican Holy Saviour parish priest, who blessed the playground before the fun could start.

The playground is a government funded project worth around R398,000 which kicked off on December 13, 2019.

The department of local government had initially anticipated to open the playground by February 2020 but was delayed due to the pandemic, with construction completing in July 2020.

Meanwhile, the toys were procured by Chinese firm Quinjing International.

The new playground and its colourful toys will serve the children of the St Ange housing estate as well as children from the surrounding uphill community.

In her speech for the occasion, DA Larue stated that the playground is proof of the government’s commitment towards improving the wellbeing of Seychellois children and paving their way for the future.

She noted that the Takamaka community had called and pushed for St Ange playground at various occasions.

“Today, we are giving you a space where you can live out your innocence and blossom. A space where you can gather with your neighbours,” said Ms Larue.

Ms Larue also provided a cautionary message for the children to take good care of their new playground since it is for their own benefit.

Young Hailey Suzette thanked the government, through the department of local government, on behalf of the other children in the St Ange community.

“Yesterday we were playing in the streets but today we have our own playground; a playground to help us better enjoy our childhood and help us preserve our innocence. We are extremely grateful,” said Hailey.

This was followed by presentations of tokens of appreciation to Minister Mondon and the department of local government.

The ceremony concluded with a dance performance, a song of thanks and refreshments. The children were quick to start enjoying their new toys after the ceremony.

According to PS Vidot-Jeannevole, the department of local government is working on another playground project for Takamaka, this time in the central part of the district near the DA’s office.

Elsie Pointe