Newly created foundation WOSITA empowers women |22 May 2025

A souvenir photograph

Newly created foundation WOSITA empowers women

A new non-profit, non-governmental organisation named Women of Seychelles Inspiring Transformative Actions was launched last Friday at the STC conference room.

This was during the group’s first general meeting, attended by over 85 women, where its calendar of activities and official website were also unveiled.

Its founders are Veronique Herminie, Maryvonne Pool and Lina Tennant – three Seychelloise from different professional backgrounds, each involved in volunteer work in different ways and not necessarily in Seychelles. 

The executive committee comprises Mrs Herminie as chairperson, Ms Pool as vice-chairperson, Lekha Nair (treasurer), Moyra Chetty (secretary) and Veronique Laporte (ordinary member).

Chairperson Mrs Herminie explained that Women of Seychelles Inspiring Transformative Actions (WOSITA) has been created exclusively for charitable, benevolent, scientific, educational, or cultural purposes. 

“The creation of WOSITA has been inspired by the professional and personal journey; the combined dreams of the three founders and its executive committee who all share similar vision in inspiring and empowering women,” she shared.

A message on the Foundation’s website from the founders reads: “We are motivated by an inner drive and commitment to empower women in Seychelles from all walks of life and to improve the quality of family life through the social causes we support, the projects we hope to undertake, and the networking between all our members.”

WOSITA foundation will operate under six main pillars as per its Constitution, namely Leadership and Mentorship, Entrepreneurship, Environment and Sustainability, Innovation and Technology, Health and Wellness as well as Arts and Culture.

Mrs Herminie explained that the pillars attempt to capture the essential aspects of women's empowerment ensuring that each pillar contributes to the overall well-being and strength of Seychelles’ women.  Support groups to encourage counselling and events coordination/promotion have been created to facilitate the implementation of the objectives of the WOSITA Foundation under the motto ‘Inspiring strength, empowering lives’.

“It is important for us that we embrace and value the contribution and diversity of experiences, knowledge, skills and cultures of the women joining WOSITA Foundation as members, and that of the communities or causes we serve for the betterment of Seychelles,” said Mrs Herminie.

The members are expected to abide by a code of ethics and bear in mind its core values, both ensuring the promotion of inclusivity, diversity, responsibility, servitude, trust, and public mindedness in all their undertakings.

Last Friday’s event also saw the launch of the WOSITA Partnership Initiative bringing on board local businesses willing to promote services and products at a discount for the benefit of the members. There was also a health corner where members could check BP and weight for recording of their BMI to kick-off the WOSITA Fitness Wednesdays, which started yesterday.  Those present were introduced to the founders, the executive committee, all the Pillar leaders and co-leaders as well as briefed on the vision for WOSITA Foundation, during a one-hour presentation.

Local poet Tony Joubert (well known as Raspyek) recited a poem entitled‘Annou selebre bann madanm’ to further inspire those present. 

The meeting ended on an even stronger and positive note with the famous song ‘Fanm’ performed by none other than the artist Philip Toussaint himself.

Text and photos contributed