New clubs take youngsters back to their roots |30 July 2008

The Seychelles Heritage Foundation has set up the clubs to encourage youngsters to find out more about their roots, and subjects covered through field trips and research will range from Seychellois culture to old buildings.

At the official launch, foundation chief executive Patrick Nanty said it is important for young people to know where they come from, and the clubs will help children become more involved in developing the study of local heritage.

Mr Nanty also said developing a cultural heritage-minded generation will allow it to benefit from the international attention being paid to this field.

Heritage foundation staff have held a one-day seminar to give teachers running the clubs pointers on how to make the events they organise interesting for their members.

The heritage clubs’ coordinator, Eudoxie Labiche, says the activities will vary from place to place as there are aspects of local history – such as the ‘La Buse’ treasure site at Bel Ombre – that may not be easily accessible to certain schools.

The club members are expected to carry out a great deal of research, and the information gathered will be presented in a periodical called Heritage.

At the moment students from Praslin and La Digue have not been included in the clubs, but Seychelles Heritage Foundation says it plans to do so in the future.