📷 Photo: State House (Seychelles)
VICTORIA, Seychelles —
First Lady Véronique Herminie has returned from a three-day working visit to La Réunion with a determination to bring home practical lessons on women’s leadership, anti-domestic-violence initiatives, paediatric hospital care, and rehabilitation services for vulnerable young people.
The visit, from 13 to 15 July 2026, allowed the First Lady to discover several social initiatives and to exchange with actors engaged in those fields, the Office of the First Lady said. Among the highlights were stops at a shelter for victims of domestic violence, a paediatric hospital, and the Cité de l’Espérance, a rehabilitation centre for young people facing addiction or social difficulties.
The trip was part of a broader Seychelles-France exchange that coincided with France’s National Day celebrations in La Réunion. President Dr Patrick Herminie travelled as the guest of honour at the Bastille Day reception hosted by the Prefect of La Réunion, Mr Patrice Latron, on 14 July, where he delivered remarks in French, paying tribute to the “privileged place La Réunion occupies in the France-Seychelles relationship,” according to a State House press release distributed by Africa Newsroom.
On women’s leadership, the First Lady met women in positions of responsibility to discuss their experiences and the challenges they face. “We met women occupying positions of responsibility to share their experiences and the initiatives in place in La Réunion,” the First Lady said, underlining the richness of the exchanges. She highlighted that these initiatives help women feel more independent and pursue their path in life.
On domestic violence, the First Lady drew particular attention to the shortcomings of existing solutions. “Often they are emotionally shaken and sometimes, not having the means, they end up by returning to the home,” she said, noting that many victims struggle to leave permanently because of emotional or financial dependence. She also visited an inclusive shelter that supports victims of domestic violence through psychological and material care, and said she wished to draw on those initiatives, particularly those aimed at single mothers, in shaping future programmes in Seychelles.
The visit to a paediatric hospital made a strong impression on the First Lady, who pointed to its family-centred approach, which allows parents to remain close to their children during hospitalisation. “This specialised hospital allows the family to stay close to the patient during the hospitalisation,” she said. She noted that the extension of the hospital had become possible through the “Pièces Jaunes” initiative, a model of solidarity that directly benefits young patients and their families.
The First Lady also toured the Cité de l’Espérance, a rehabilitation centre for young people facing addiction or social difficulties, an experience she described as “magic” and one that could inspire future initiatives in Seychelles. “We do not have immediate treatment like this,” she said.
Her visit concluded with an invitation to participate, in December, in a forum on social issues, where she will share her experience as First Lady and the lessons learned from her engagement with women, children and vulnerable people. The First Lady said she wants to strengthen exchanges with La Réunion and draw on innovative projects suited to the Seychellois context, State House Seychelles reported.
Sources cited: 1. State House Seychelles, “President Herminie and First Lady Attend Cultural Event Hosted by President of the Regional Council of La Réunion”, . 2. Africa Newsroom (APO Group), “President Herminie Reaffirms Enduring Seychelles-France 50 Years’ Friendship at Bastille Day Reception in La Réunion”, . 3. Africa Newsroom (APO Group), “President Herminie and First Lady Attend Cultural Event Hosted by President of the Regional Council of La Réunion”, . 4. UNESCO, “Maloya – Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”, .
