VICTORIA, Seychelles, A group of 15 children aged between 10 and 16 who were affected by the December 7 calamities enjoyed a day of fun and games at the Four Seasons Resort in Baie Lazare on Saturday. The young guests took part in several activities, including pizza making and snorkelling, in an event organised to bring joy to those still recovering from the trauma of last year’s explosions and floods. Staff and volunteers ensured the day ran smoothly for all involved.
According to Yasmin Umarji, chief executive of the National Council for Children (NCC), the outing was the brainchild of Employment and Social Affairs Minister Patricia Francourt and the principal secretary for social affairs, Linda William-Melanie. The two officials approached the NCC to coordinate with hotels willing to host the children. The collaboration between government and the private sector has been praised as a model for community support in difficult times.
Mrs Umarji noted that the response from the hospitality sector was overwhelmingly positive. Minister Francourt contacted several general managers directly, and the NCC followed up with formal letters, resulting in four hotels agreeing to participate. Club Med was the first to host the children and their families in a recent outing. Most of the children at the Four Seasons event came from the Petit Paris and Cascade districts.
Mrs Umarji expressed her gratitude to the general managers and hotel staff for their warm welcome. She said the aim was to give the children a chance to step away from the painful memories of the past months and simply enjoy being kids for a day. Phylis Coeur de Lion, senior information and communications officer at the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs, said the turnout was good and that nearly all the identified children turned up for the event.
The NCC arranged for a psychologist to be present throughout the day, in case any of the children wished to discuss their experiences in a more relaxed and friendly environment, away from an office or school setting. Two further outings are planned: Kempinski Seychelles Resort will host the children next weekend, and Constance Ephelia Mahe Resort will welcome them on March 16, ensuring continued support for these young survivors over the coming weeks.
