Royal Navy crew gives back to local community through outreach activities |04 October 2022
In the latest demonstration of the community ties between Seychelles and the United Kingdom, the crew of the visiting Royal Navy ship HMS Montrose spent their recent visit working alongside local organisations engaged in community improvement projects.
The 200 crew members participated in three projects as part of the British High Commission's ongoing Shared Values Programme. The first was the refurbishment of music rooms at the children's homes at the Foyer de Nazareth, Foyer de La Providence and Foyer de la Solitude.
After a hard day's work of painting, decorating, and refurbishment, the crew members joined the British High Commission team for a handover ceremony of musical instruments at the Foyer de La Providence. Each Foyer was gifted with pianos, ukuleles, guitars, drumsets, and other instruments to suit the age group of the residents.
Commenting on the handover, the programmes manager of the British High Commission, Colette Puaar, said: "The handover of the musical instruments to the children's homes has been in the pipeline for some time. With the Montrose crew in Seychelles, we wanted to seize this opportunity to refurbish a room at each home to create a space for the children to explore their musical talents. We hope to continue working with the homes by providing the children with music lessons so that they may make proper use of their new gifts. The energy and noise that followed the handover showed great potential!"
The Plaisance elderly care home also benefited from the extra hands. A group of sailors got to work at the home, engaging in multiple restoration works, including painting, power washing, and groundskeeping.
The crew's final day in Seychelles was spent trekking through the greenery of Takamaka to Anse Capucin. In collaboration with Jessica Lawen from Parley for the Oceans, a non-profit environmental organisation dedicated to protecting the oceans, the British High Commission and HMS Montrose crew cleaned up the trail and Anse Capucin beach.
British High Commissioner Patrick Lynch was pleased with the outcome of the activities undertaken by the Montrose crew.
“We were delighted to have had the 200 extra helping hands to support these projects. The ship's company was eager to contribute to the local community during their stay, so much so that they volunteered for a second day of community work after spotting more jobs to be done in the restoration works at the Plaisance elderly care home.
“Seychelles and the UK share a strong sense of family and community, which is at the centre of our Shared Values Programme. Undoubtedly the most enjoyable part of our work at the high commission, the team has been active in the community, taking on projects that have contributed to the maintenance of elderly care homes, children's homes, and our famous Seychelles Schools' Premier League.
“We look forward to welcoming the next Royal Navy ship to Seychelles and promise to keep them just as busy.”
Berthed at Port Victoria from September 23-28, the ship's visit was in support of Operation Southern Readiness, a two-week joint operation exercise launched by the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) in partnership with the Seychelles Defence Force.
The accompanying photos show some highlights of the crew’s community outreach activities during their last stay in Port Victoria.
Press release from the British High Commission
