Youth Engage in Civic Dialogue at Inaugural Budget Talk in Seychelles
VICTORIA, Seychelles — The Seychelles cohort of the Parlement régional des jeunes de l’Indianocéanie, in partnership with the National Assembly of Seychelles, has hosted the inaugural Youth Budget Talk at the Assembly precinct, providing a platform for young people to engage in civic dialogue on national financial priorities. The Youth Budget Talk brought together Vice-President Sebastien Pillay, Minister for Youth and Sports Kalsey Belle, and members of the National Assembly to hear youth perspectives on the R11.8 billion national budget.
The event was designed to provide a safe and inclusive platform for young people to share their perspectives, foster civic engagement, and empower youth to participate in critical national processes such as the budget. Camilla Cupidon, a member of the regional youth parliament, explained that the initiative aimed to amplify the voice of youth and ensure their concerns are addressed in appropriate forums. The budget is distributed across several initiatives including Skills Development Programme Expansion, Youth Hostel Dormitory Construction, and Youth Entrepreneurship Support.
A key topic of discussion was the situation of youth from the inner islands, particularly Praslin and La Digue. Participant Xarah Hertel called for greater support for inner island youth, especially in conducting transactions on Mahé and assisting students travelling abroad for scholarships. Said Lesperance, representing Praslin, focused on difficulties faced by youth hostel residents when relocating to Mahé.
Minister Belle praised the initiative as an opportunity for leaders to better understand how young people perceive the budget, highlighting the importance of giving youth a platform to present proposals and solutions. She noted the budget is dynamic, and listening to youth perspectives will help develop processes that incorporate their ideas.
The approved youth budget totals R11.8 billion, distributed across programmes including R6.4 million for Skills Development, R2 million for Youth Hostel construction, R30 million for Youth Hope Residential Centre, and R162 million for Youth Governance and Policy Development. The Youth Budget Talk marks a significant step in bridging the gap between policymakers and young citizens.
Youth engagement in Seychelles’ budget process strengthens democratic participation and civic awareness.
