Travel firm sets up project for President’s Village |29 May 2010

This is happening through a new project called Pure Smiles initiated by Pure Escapes, a luxury travel firm specialising in Indian Ocean islands and with an office in Seychelles.

The aim is to help the children not only through donations but by providing positive and unforgettable experiences which may influence their lives.

The project started with a cooking class yesterday organised in collaboration with the Constance Lemuria Resort on Praslin.

The resort is taking part in such charitable activities as part of its commitment to help the less fortunate. This includes adopting the Baie Ste Anne hospital children’s ward.

Daniel Agathine, a young chef at the resort, joined representatives of Pure Escapes at the Port Glaud home to start the project.

He spent the afternoon with the children, teaching them simple cooking skills they can use at the village. Daniel told the group to work hard so they can achieve great things in life.

The activity was also held to mark Children’s Day, to be celebrated on Tuesday June 1.

The director of Pure Escapes, Milla Vladova, said the firm will continue to support the village, and the project will involve other local people teaching the children skills such as painting and dancing.

Miss Vladova said the young chef is an ideal role model for the children, and she is confident the event will prove to have been an inspiring and perhaps even life-changing experience.

Mr Agathine, who has been working at the Lemuria since 2004, won a top award at a regional cookery contest last year. 
Miss Vladova was accompanied by two of the firm’s representatives; also present were village manager Liz Englert and members of staff.

Pure Escapes has been supporting the Port Glaud home through donations since 2009.