Africa-Press – Mauritius. A new initiative aimed at giving children a safe and confidential means to seek help was launched, yesterday, at Sir Harilall Vaghjee Memorial Hall in Port Louis, by the Minister of Education and Human Resource, Dr Mahend Gungapersad, and the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mrs Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra, in the presence of Junior Ministers as well as Members of Parliament and of the Parliamentary Gender Caucus.
The project, La Colombe (The Dove), introduces specially designated letter boxes in schools across the country, where children facing difficulties or distress may express their experiences through written letters. These will be read confidentially by responsible adults who possess the ethical values needed to provide appropriate support to the children. The overall objective is to safeguard children and foster a culture of peace, empathy and protection within Mauritian society.
La Colombe initiative forms part of activities marking the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence national campaign, which began on 26 November 2025. The campaign, organised by the National Assembly and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Mauritius & Seychelles Office, seeks to sensitise the public on preventing all forms of violence in Mauritius, with particular attention to gender-based violence.
In his address, the Education Minister highlighted the symbolism of the dove as an emblem of peace and love, stressing the urgent need to break cycles of violence and protect the most vulnerable. He welcomed the letter box initiative as a means for children to ‘place their sufferings in a box’ and receive help from trustworthy adults.
Moreover, Dr Gungapersad pointed out the harmful narratives present within some families, which he said give rise to bullying and harassment that originate at home and spread throughout society. He deplored that instead of teaching children love, empathy and understanding, such behaviours lead to people being shamed for their physical appearance or socio-economic background. He called for a renewed emphasis on compassion and positive values.
Underlining that education is not about degrees but should be about humanism, the Minister added that a new education blueprint will be launched early next year. It will place emphasis not only on academic achievement but also on children’s welfare, emotional development and the teaching of core values. According to Dr Gungapersad, such an approach could contribute to reducing crime and improving public health.
For her part, the Speaker of the National Assembly focused on the issue of intergenerational violence. She recalled that studies have shown that 20% of boys replicate the violent behaviour they witness when their fathers beat their mothers, while a similar proportion of girls come to accept violence as normal. “Hands are not made to be beaten, and love is not about violence,” she said.
The Speaker also highlighted the importance of La Colombe letter box in giving victims a discreet avenue to voice their suffering. She drew parallels with France’s Papillon initiative, where similar letter boxes have led to the detection of cases of sexual abuse and other forms of violence against children, resulting in the prosecution of perpetrators.
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