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Youth
Exchange between Seychelles and Maldives
OBJECTIVES
AND LOGISTICS FOR THE SIV YOUTH EXCHANGE VISIT BETWEEN SEYCHELLES
AND THE MALDIVES
AIMS/OBJECTIVES
To
strengthen Small Island States' relationships and share experiences
in reinforcing island environment and development issues. Students
from Seychelles and the Maldives should be able to discuss common
environmental, social and development problems; discuss possible
solutions and how to implement them and prepare a project that
the students in the two countries can undertake and implement
themselves.
Rationale
Started
in early 2002, Small Islands Voice (www.smallislandsvoice.org)
is an inter-regional initiative focusing on small islands - both
small island developing states, and islands with other affiliations
- in the Caribbean, Indian Ocean and Pacific regions. The goal
of this initiative is that the voice of the general public in
small islands is heard loud and clear and that this voice becomes
a driving force for island development.
Involving
young people in determining the future of their islands is an
important part of this initiative. The Youth section of Small
Islands Voice website is available at: http://www.unesco.org/csi/smis/siv/YoungIslanders/young.htm
In
addition, Small Islands Voice (SIV) Youth Forum (www.sivyouth.org,
with user name view and password only) was launched in September
2002. Involving more than 30 schools from different islands, it
gives the students from the three regions the possibility to:
- Find out
the views of youth in islands on issues of direct interest to
them
- Promote
direct interaction between youth in different islands and different
regions
- Promote
mutual sharing of views and information
The
idea of having an exchange was initiated by the SIV Youth Forum
coordinator for the Praslin Secondary School, Miss Farida Camille,
who feels strongly about the forum and would like students to,
not only communicate through the internet on the issues common
in the small states but also see for themselves what different
countries are doing to battle arousing problems or menaces.
Through
such an exchange, students are able to share ideas, experiences
and work on an ongoing common project at the school level, which
they can then evaluate and sensitise other members of their community
about. This can then be expanded to the national level with the
help of supporting ministries.
LOGISTICS
Date:
4th to the 12th January 2004
Lodging/accommodation:
Hosted by teachers in Male - girls and boys separately
Cost:
Over SR15,000
- Discounted
air fares given by Air Seychelles (SR 2500 per person)
- UNESCO
provided US$ 1,000 paid directly to Air Seychelles as a contribution
towards the air fares
- Participants
had to raise Rs10,000 altogether, and fund raising was done
through sponsor letters
- Parents
were prepared to contribute towards pocket money for the students
Participants:
Four S4 students: Alizee Ferrari, Anna-Rita Stravens, Marc Lesperance,
Jean Marc Athanase One S1 student: Lorraine Stravens
Accompanied by: Miss Farida Camille
Government
support: Mr. Rolph Payet and Mr. Alain De Commarmond of the
Ministry of Environment have been working hard with UNESCO to
support this activity.
Proposed
Plan of activities:
| DAY |
TIME |
ACTIVITY |
LOCATION |
CO-
ORDINATOR (S) |
| 4th JAN
(Sun) |
9:55pm |
ARRIVAL
OF SEYCHELLOIS |
AIRPORT |
|
| 5th JAN
(Mon) |
8:00am
2:00pm
5:00pm
|
MEETINGS
(MoE; MoFAMR)
Sightseeing;
Artificial Beach, Schools,Parks, Museum, Dumpsite, Youth
Centre, IGMH (Discussanything common/ Share ideas/knowledge)
Vilingili
Creative Crafts and Arts Centre,Flats, School and dinner
(cultural show-I hour Seychellois/Maldivians Culture)
|
Male' |
Respective
Ministries |
| 6th JAN
(Tues) |
8:00am |
Leave
to Thilafushi(Reclamation, Villa Gas, Maldives Cement, Fibre-glass,Meysthiri,
Gulf Craft) ( Debate on small islandeconomy-Arts and Crafts-
during observation and studytrips to Thilafushi (an island
primarily reclaimedfrom garbage) |
Thilafushi |
|
| 7th JAN
(Wed) |
8:00am |
Leave
to Hulhumale' (Flats,School Nursery, Mosque, DHIRAAGU), garbage
disposalarea(Hulhumale' (a reclamation project island linkedto
the airport).WORK ON PROJECT TO start gettingSchools to think
about sustainability issues, andtargeting a zero-tolerance
for litter) |
Hulhumale' |
|
| 8th JAN
(Thurs) |
8:00am |
Leave
to Huraa & Himmafushi(Visit kulhi; Dumping site; Youth Camp
site) Huraanother inhabited island where inland pond reclamationis
under way) |
Huraa
& Himmafushi |
|
| 9th JAN
(Fri) |
8:00am |
Funadhoo
Picnic andFishing(Discuss/Organise producing an output eg,
afuture project that addresses problems common to bothcountries,
and as Seychelles is also a major Fishingnation in the IO,
we could perhaps look at developingsomething targetting sustainable
fisheries (eg. say,campaign against shark fishing - which
will also givelinks to the tourism industry in both countries). |
Funadhoo |
|
| 10th
JAN (Sat) |
8:00am |
Leave
to Maafushi & Guraidhoo(Visit ETCC; Dumping site; Centre for
Disabled) tripsto Maafushi and Guraidhoo(both inhabited islandshaving
dumping and garbage disposal problems) |
Maafushi&
Guraidhoo |
|
| 11th
JAN (Sun) |
12:00noon |
Follow
-up meetings in Male'and meeting Press. |
|
Respective
Ministries/Press |
| 12th
JAN (Mon) |
5:35am |
Departure
to Seychelles |
AIRPORT |
|
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