President Danny Faure attended the official launching of the 20th Edition of the Seychelles Youth Festival 2019 held at Palais Des Sports, Roche Caiman this morning.
Launched under the theme, ‘Reaching Out to the Youth’, the ceremonyincluded a series of vibrant musical and dance performances by various youth groups to kick off the biggest annual display of young talent over the 3 main islands across the next 2 weeks.
In her address to officially launch the event, the Designated Minister, also the Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture, highlighted the specific emphasis of this year’s theme focused on broadening the involvement of various youth categories.
“Our theme for this year’s Youth Festival has been chosen to reflect our commitment to promote in our youth development endeavours. As can be witnessed by the wide variety of activities on the programme for this year’s celebrations, the activities cater for both the artistically, vocationally and academically oriented, with due respect for their diverse interests, needs and talents, in order to involve and touch the whole spectrum of our youth. Whether they are abled bodied or physically challenged, all our young people who are willing to participate, will have an opportunity to express themselves and showcase their goodwill, achievements or creative talents,” said Minister Mondon.
“This year’s theme does not only talk to the young people but also to us as adults, as leaders, as a Government and as a nation. We are all being called upon to listen to the voices of our youth, to their aspirations and to their pleas. We need to appreciate that all our young people have potential that we need to harness for their own benefit, for the benefit of their families, communities and that of our country,” she urged.
During the ceremony, a group led by the Speaker of the Seychelles National Youth Assembly, Mr Marlon Esparon, read a pledge on behalf of Seychellois youths. He was accompanied by popular Seychellois boxer Mr Keddy Agnes, and 3 young swimmers who won medals in the most recent Indian Ocean Island Games, Ms Felicity Passon, Mr Janil Lucas and Mr Samuel Rossi.
Some of the main activities for this year’s festival include Youth Expo, Sports Fiesta, Reach out Programme, Youth Summit, and Meet and Greet for Young Entrepreneurs. The programme for the 2019 Seychelles Youth Festival will end with a series of holiday activities involving students from primary and secondary schools all over Mahe, Praslin and La Digue.
Also present for the ceremony this morning, was the Vice-President, Mr Vincent Meriton, the Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly, Hon. Charles Decommarmond, Ministers, Members of the National Assembly, Principal Secretaries and other distinguished guests.