Scouts launches new group in Les Mamelles By Elsie Pointe |08 November 2021
Souvenir photograph
The Scouts movement in Seychelles officially launched a group in the Les Mamelles district on Saturday.
The event, held at the district administration office, was attended the member of the National Assembly for Les Mamelles Bernard Georges, the district administrator Claudette Louise and chief commissioner of Scouts Seychelles Betty-Mai Sofa.
Les Mamelles Scouts is the 18th such groupings which are active in schools and communities across the country.
The new scout group is considers as yet another key milestone for the Seychelles Scouts Association since it represents the result of its 2021 project funded by the National Grant scheme.
Additionally, such expansion of the scout family symbolises the movement’s contribution to the strategic priorities of the World Scouts Organisation which places emphasis on membership growth, inclusion, diversity, community involvement and engagement.
Ms Sofa explained that the launch of Scout in Les Mamelles also came as a result of requests made by parents in the district, supported by the district administrator.
Around 35 Les Mamelles children have joined the group so far although Scout is expecting to get more recruits as they go along.
They are led by three leaders who are flanked and supported by a parent’s committee.
Hon. Georges, who grew up as a Scout, expressed his excitement for the new Les Mamelles Scouts and committed to not only assisting the group but provide them with his know-how and experience gained while he was an active Scout.
He further noted that the Scouts movement is yet another initiative in the right direction for the Les Mamelles district which is often times associated with negative habits.
“I was your age when I joined Scouts and I want you all to persevere with your Scout leaders[…]It is through the Scouts movement that we will be able to reorganise and reform our district so that Les Mamelles becomes number one district in Seychelles. I am counting on you, the youths, to make this happen, because you are our future,” added Hon. Georges.
Prior to the official launch during the weekend, Les Mamelles Scouts had already embarked on a number of activities to better bond and learn about each other such as a hike to Anse Major and learning how to tie knots, a prerequisite for any Scout.
Marianne Amad, one of the three group leaders said that the main priority for the group right now is to deal with bullying issues which are pervasive among children at Les Mamelles and forming better young citizens.
Scouting plays a very significant role in the community.
Aside from equipping children with life skills, it also encourages the development of positive attitudes to appreciate and contribute to the advancement of their neighbourhood, boost up resilience against social ills, facilitate bridging of gaps and foster respect and trust between older and younger community members as well as promote sense of place and community role models.
The accompanying photos show the Les Mamelles Scout in a souvenir photograph as well a number of activities the scouts had already carried out to better bond and learn about each other.
Elsie Pointe.
