Youths want a say in Blue Economy Institute concept
20-July-2015
The youths have asked that they have a say in the concept of the Cap Ternay Blue Economy Institute which will also include facilities for the youth.
The creation of this institute was announced by President James Michel in his National Day address on June 29.
In his address, President Michel stressed on the Blue Economy as the way forward to achieve sustainable development and “the future we have chosen and which will ensure the survival of our children”.
“This unique site (Cap Ternay) will host a Blue Economy Institute and facilities for the youth. This is the best use of this site, for the benefit of all Seychellois and also the international community,” the president said when announcing the project.
According to Jeanette Larue, technical advisor for education in the Ministry of Environment, Cap Ternay’s unique and beautiful marine environment will in the coming years be used as an important outdoor classroom, especially by children and youth.
She added that this will help prepare and empower our future generation with skills and knowledge needed to benefit from the sustainable management and use of the coastal and marine environment and associated resource and the effective implementation of the Blue Economy concept.
The request to be involved in the conceptualisation of the new Cap Ternay development was made by a group of young people as they attended the launch of their own marine protection initiative for the area.
The Youth Marine Programme was launched at Cap Ternay on Saturday and coincided with Nelson Mandela International Day, which celebrates the former South African president’s contribution to the culture of peace and freedom.
It is a joint venture of the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC), the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change and Global Vision International (GVI), a partner of the Seychelles National Parks Authority (SNPA) already based at Cap Ternay.
The programme aims at teaching the youth about the importance of coastal and marine conservation and its benefits.
The chief executive (CEO) of the SNYC, Vicky van der Westhuizen, has said that the Youth Marine Programme and other youth facilities which will come to life at Cap Ternay will help young people build capacity in environment protection and develop scientific knowledge.
She added that the knowledge will be discovered naturally and not necessarily in books.
In this way, she said, the youth will take ownership of their natural environment.
The youths present did not lose time to actively embark on this mission as they went on a beach safari in order to “discover everything that there is on the beach”.
As it was low tide, they also had the possibility to explore the shallow waters of the bay.
Three of them, Angelique Pouponneau, Shantana Barbé and Allen Doudée from Sids Youth Aims Hub (SYAH), all said that they were excited about the new Cap Ternay project, that they liked the idea and were looking forward to taking part in its concept development.
As the Seychelles government has always been attentive to the wishes of the young generation, it should not be an exception on this most sensitive issue crucial to our survival and future.
Miss Larue concluded that environment education will now intensify at Cap Ternay.
It is also interesting to note that its beach is now once again opened to tourists and Seychellois alike, provided vehicles are left outside the gate.
However, the department of environment has warned that the security guard will not let in large groups of people or those intending to have a beach party.
0 comments :
Post a Comment