Youth forum on environment launches Constitution Week |12 June 2018
Students and young adults from secondary schools and professional training centres around the country gathered at the ICCS yesterday morning to listen to different presentations on the environment as part of a series of activities organised to mark Constitution Week.
Designated Minister Macsuzy Mondon, also the chairperson of the National Celebrations Committee, officially launched the week-long activities organised to educate and inform our citizens of the importance of our civic duty to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.
The first activity was a forum for the youth under the theme; ‘Youth, the guardians of our national treasure’.
The young people listened to four presentations and viewed related images on achievements and challenges in environment protection, ocean conservation and the different initiatives to protect the sea from waste and pollution, the challenges of climate change and waste/pollution management.
The presentations were attended by key environment protection and conservation enthusiasts namely Wilna Accouche, the general manager of Green Island Foundation; Kalsey Belle, a project analyst at the PUC and head of environment NGO SYAH Seychelles; Betty Victor, project manager at the UNDP programme coordination unit and Nanette Laure, the director general in the Waste Enforcement and Permit Division.
The aim of the series of presentations was to give the young people a greater insight so that they are better aware of the responsibility of each and every one of us to preserve and protect our seas, forests, rivers, marshes and swamps, landscapes and the large variety of species that characterise our rich biodiversity.
In her remarks Minister Mondon reminded the young audience that it was through a referendum held on June 18, 1993 that the people of Seychelles unanimously voted to adopt our new Constitution as the fundamental law of the land and signaling the birth of the 3rd Republic and laying the foundation for a new era of development of multi-party democracy. At that time most of them were not even born.
“You are not only the leaders of tomorrow but also the partners of today whose contributions are vital in bringing about positive change. It is important that you get engaged in your environment school clubs, community based associations, regional and international organisations to acquire the knowledge and skills which would enable you to advocate for environmentally sound practices necessary for the longevity and security of our territory,” Minister Mondon stressed.
She noted that it is fitting on this occasion to impress on the youth the need to acquaint themselves with the document and the pertinent national issues of the day as this would enable them to participate fully in the process of nation-building as they too are the guardians of the Constitution.
Minister Mondon has also called on the young people to play a central role in protecting and preserving our environment, the ‘physical essence of our earthly existence’.
“Already 25 years have elapsed since this momentous event and although it is a short time in the life of a nation, we have certainly come a long way,” Minister Mondon remarked.
She noted that next week our country will commemorate the Silver Jubilee of our new Constitution, “a significant milestone on its journey towards political pluralism”.
She has called on all citizens in particular the young people to reaffirm their commitment to continuing to work together.
“Let our diverse views be our strength, a platform to promote respect and tolerance and a motivating force for continued progress and prosperity.”
Alain Volcère, a member of the National Celebrations Committee and moderator at the forum noted that in its effort to continue to protect our national treasures, heritage, assets and other gains we need to bring the youths onboard and value their contributions.
“If the young people are more and better educated on different issues including protection of the environment, the negative impacts of human activities on the latter would be much less in future,” Mr Volcère remarked.
Recognising that through a lot of hard work and dedication by a group of passionate and committed individuals Seychelles has been recognised as a leader in environmental protection and conservation, Mr Volcère said we cannot afford to regress but should maintain the momentum by having onboard the younger generation.