Club Med Seychelles Hosts Children Displaced by December 7 Disasters

VICTORIA, Seychelles — Club Med Seychelles on Sunday welcomed 29 children who are currently living in temporary shelters after their homes were damaged in the December 7, 2023 disasters. The group, accompanied by nine parents, spent an afternoon at the resort on Sainte-Anne island as part of a continuing effort to support families affected by the events. The visit was organised under a collaboration between the social affairs department, the National Council for Children, and the Ministry of Education.

Children aged between 1 and 15 took part in a digital show, music, and a series of brain teasers that filled the venue with energy. Various outdoor games were also organised, and an array of refreshments and snacks was served throughout the afternoon. The leisure experience manager, Oussama Aithammoui, said the team was pleased to welcome what he called a group of very special guests.

The outing was arranged by the social affairs department in collaboration with the National Council for Children and the Ministry of Education. Minister of Employment and Social Affairs Patricia Francourt, who was unable to attend, sent a message of encouragement to the children, urging them to remain focused on their studies and to welcome the support being offered. She also asked the parents to keep their families together during the recovery period.

In her message, the minister also thanked the parents for their resilience and for keeping their families together during the crisis. The social affairs department has expressed its gratitude to Club Med for its continued support and has appealed to other businesses interested in hosting similar activities to come forward, with the hope of extending such outings into the April school holidays. Officials said such gestures play an important role in helping children regain a sense of normalcy.

The visit formed part of a wider pattern of corporate and community responses to the December 7 events, which displaced several families and left many homes in need of repair. Resort staff said the afternoon provided a much-needed moment of respite for the children, and looked forward to further collaborations in the months ahead. The social affairs department said it would continue to coordinate similar outings for affected families over the coming months.