Africa-Press – Mauritius. A Children’s Playground, aimed at promoting children’s development by engaging their participation in recreation activities and ensuring their proper and safe growth, was inaugurated this afternoon at Bonne Veine Community Centre, in Quartier Militaire. The setting up of the children’s playground has been funded by the National Empowerment Foundation (NEF) to the tune of Rs 228,351.60.
The Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, the Minister of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity, Mrs Fazila Jeewa-Daureeawoo, the Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Yogida Sawmynaden, and other personalities were present.
The inauguration ceremony was followed by a symbolic distribution of school bags; presentation of certificates and toolkits to seven beneficiaries who completed a Footwear course; and presentation of certificates and toolkits to nine beneficiaries who completed a Hairdressing & Beauty care course.
In her address, the Vice-Prime Minister lauded the NEF’S initiative leading to the inauguration of the children’s playground which celebrates the empowerment of the people of the region. This is again the coming to fruition of yet another project, she stated.
Mrs Dookun-Luchoomun encouraged citizens to make the most of the facilities available and keep the premises clean and respect social distancing given the current difficult situation due to COVID-19.
According to her, the country is going through a difficult phase the more so that schools have had to be closed as Government wishes to limit the transmission of the virus.
She remarked that the past week saw the commemoration of several celebrations with people being in contact with each other and therefore there is a fear that there might be more COVID-19 cases in the community.
Mrs Dookun-Luchoomun appealed to parents to see to the safety of their children and ensure that they are studying diligently at home. She observed that around 70% of the population has been inoculated against COVID-19 and encouraged citizens to receive the booster dose and improve their immunisation.
The Vice-Prime Minister indicated that it is crucial to break the transmission chain and announced that more measures will be introduced to limit the propagation of the virus. She likewise called upon individuals to take their responsibility and make efforts to protect themselves, their families and neighbours.
As for Minister Jeewa-Daureeawoo, she underscored the need for Mauritians to take all precautions given the current situation caused by COVID-19 as ensuring the good health of the population is a priority for the authorities.
She also enumerated several support schemes offered by her Ministry to assist the most vulnerable of the society and highlighted that the Marshall Plan to fight poverty was developed in 2016 in an effort to effectively address the issue of poverty in the country.
The Marshall Plan rests on five pillars and one of those pillars is education, said the Minister. On that note, she spoke about assistance schemes offered to needy families for their children to complete their education.
She additionally underlined the efforts of Government to provide a decent lodging to the most vulnerable with the project for the construction of 12 000 social housing units across the country. Mrs Jeewa-Daureeawoo urged citizens to come forward and inform the NEF of the type of support schemes they would like to benefit from in the future.
For his part, MP, Mr Sawmynaden, recalled the history of the Bonne Veine Community Centre and highlighted that now the Centre will be 100% operational with the inauguration of the children’s playground on its grounds. He appealed to citizens to keep the Centre in good conditions and use the amenities available.
Mr Sawmynaden emphasised the need for citizens to observe all sanitary precautions whilst using the facilities available at the Centre including the children’s playground as the health of Mauritians is of utmost importance for the Government, he added.
It is moreover the responsibility of each individual to fight the propagation of the COVID-19 in the community, he stated. The duration of the project for the setting up of the children’s playground was from September 2020 to August 2020.
The outdoor games financed by NEF comprise the following: one unit of Multi-play Station; one unit of Rope climbing; one unit of Double Seesaw; and two units of Spring Riders.
The children playground will be under the responsibility of the Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Fund (SILWF) for the maintenance and ensuring that all children of the community especially NEF beneficiaries have access to it. The commissioning of the children’s playground was conducted on 16 August 2021, and was handed over to the SILWF on the same date.
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