All systems are go for ‘Festival Zanfan’ |31 May 2023
The press conference (Photo: Joena Meme)
The National Council for Children (NCC) has officially launched the activities for the third edition of the ‘Festival Zanfan’, coinciding with the National Children’s Day on June 1, which this year is being held under the theme ‘Les zanfan reste zanfan’.
The launch was done in a press conference yesterday morning at the NCC’s Children’s Ark, Bel Eau.
NCC’s chief executive, Yasmin Umarji, outlined the list of activities that will follow the Children’s Day celebration, starting on June 2, with the festival’s opening ceremony at the Anse Royale primary and secondary schools.
“In the festival we are promoting NCC's strategic goals 3 and 4, which highlight the need to celebrate children's talents and give them a voice and in our festival we have created this balance to accommodate to both goals equally,” she said.
Mrs Umarji added that this also gives them the opportunity to promote articles on children's right.
Outlining the activities relating to culture and tradition was Alain Jules from the Culture department. He said that there will be a ‘kanmtole’ competition for primary pupils and a ‘Romans’ competition for secondary students.
“We chose to do this for primary school pupils because it is easy to learn and it will stay with them as they grow up. We are doing these competitions to give children the chance to learn the authentic version of culture and tradition and pave the way to implement these activities in schools,” he said.
On Mahé, the eliminations for the ‘kanmtole’ competition for primary schools and the ‘Romans’ competition for secondary schools will take place on June 21 at the Roche Caiman community centre. On Praslin, they will take place on June 23 at the Baie St Anne Praslin community centre.
The Seychelles Judiciary, which marks Constitution day on June 18 every year, has also decided to partner with the NCC to host a children’s forum during the festival.
According to their public relations and communications officer, Sasha-Lee Alis, the event is to educate the children on their rights and share how the judiciary system operates.
“Having the constitution as a topic, which is taught in school, is one of the priorities of the judiciary system and we are very happy that NCC also shares this view,” said Mrs Alis.
Another activity related to the judiciary is a ‘hot seating’ with the Chief Justice at the Palais de Justice on June 16.
The Attorney General’s office will also host an event named ‘Think like a Lawyer’ whereby they will do an introduction to the ‘Executive Function for children’ on June 6, a mock trial at the Palais de Justice on June 14, and also an ‘Introduction to Legislative’ for the members of the Seychelles National Youth Assembly on June 17.
Inspector Agnes Labiche, head of the Child Protection Unit, said their activity is an exhibition on June 2, at the Anse Royale primary school, to raise awareness on the role of their officers, the different abuse and how to defend against it.
“We want them to know that our unit is concerned with abuse against children and we are there to support them if they need it,” she said.
The NCC said more activities are scheduled throughout the month of June and after. “We do not want to only celebrate children for the month of June but yearlong as well, as they are there to be cherished and nurtured and this festival will reflect this,” concluded Mrs Umarji.
Diane Larame