Creole Exchange bonds two islands
4 September 2007

The Creole exchange took place between 25 October - 4 November 2006 when Jahisiah Benoit (Dominica) travelled to Seychelles. Part of his goal was to experience the Kwéyòl festival in Seychelles so that similarities and differences could be identified to improve the Dominican festivals. Some of the activities that he took part in included:

• Moman Kreative ("improvised" version of the Kreol Festival);
• Visit to Kreol Village and Victoria Market;
• Official Opening of Creole Festival;
• Dimas Kreole Borlanmer;
• An interview with Seychelles Radio Station;
• Visit to Seychelles Kreol Institute;
• Kreol Youth Forum;
• Trip to Vallée de Mai (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and more.

The outcomes of his experience includes:

• Linkages have been established between the youth of Dominica and Seychelles;
• The youth of Dominica have a better understanding of the preservation of the Kwéyòl/Kreol language in other parts of the world;
• There has been a renewed spirit amongst the members of the Komitte Pou Etid Kwéyòltowards the development of a national Kweyol Curriculum;
• The Komitte Pou Etid Kwéyòl is embarking on a program to develop literature and activity books in Kwéyòl and are in the process of putting these plans into a proposal for consideration by the government;
• As identified in the Moman Kreative, drama has been used to introduce the Dominican youth to the Kwéyòl language as they develop public service announcements on environmental awareness in Kwéyòl. To date at least five (5) such PSAs have been developed
• The exchange reenergized Jahisiah to continue the process of promoting the Kwéyòl language in Dominica.

>> Final Report [.pdf 586Kb]

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Jahisiah Jeremiah Benoit

Dominica | Seychelles