Africa-Press – Seychelles. To mark the closing of the Children Festival, celebrated during the month of June, the National Council for Children (NCC), in collaboration with the local government, hosted a colourful and lively variety show where the children got to have fun on stage.
The show, which was held yesterday at the International Conference Centre Seychelles (ICCS), was attended by President Wavel Ramkalawan and First Lady Linda Ramkalawan, Vice-President Ahmed Afif, cabinet ministers, Chinese ambassador to Seychelles Guo Wei, Ambassador for Women and Children Dr Erna Athanasius, principal secretary for Local Government Kevin Perrine, partners, staff, parents and children.
Guests were able to enjoy a variety of entertainment such as dance, poems, songs, modelling all done by the children coming from different communities on Mahé.
The limelight of the show was the moutya dance performance by the Plaisance secondary school, who won the first prize in their category for the moutya inter-school competition the day before.
There were other performances by other guest artists, such as Ketty Samson who performed alongside ‘Orijii’ Collin Aglae with their song titled ‘Lev ou Lanmen’ that is also featured on an album done for the children by NCC.
All the children who performed in the variety show were presented with a certificate of participation by President Ramkalawan while Ambassador Guo presented each of them with a small gift.
The communication and events officer, San Finesse, said that this year’s edition went very well because all the activities they had planned to do were accomplished.
He added that they have successfully reached over more than 800 children in total through all their activities, such as educational sessions on safeguarding their rights as children, how to protect themselves, sports activities, art performances, think like a lawyer and storytelling, all in all to promote the three articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; Article 13 – children have the rights of expression, Article 19 – Children should be protected from abuse and Article 31- Children have the right to participate in cultural , art and fun activities.
“For next year we wish to send out an appeal to anyone, any organisation or company who know they can cater services or activities for children to come forward to the NCC office and see how we can work as a team to make the 3rd edition of the Children Festival even better,” said Mr Finesse.
In her vote of thanks, the chief executive of NCC, Yasmin Umarji, thanked Dr Erna Athanasius who encouraged her to introduce the Children Festival in Seychelles.
She said 2022 gave them the chance to bring this festival to life.
She also thanked the Minister for Youth, Sports & Family Marie-Celine Zialor and her team for joining forces with NCC in making this festival work and all those who have helped in one way or another to make the Children Festival a success.
To note this year’s celebration was launched on June 1 at the Bel Eau primary school, and throughout the month of June there were different activities over Mahé, Praslin and La Digue with the aim of maximising the involvement of children, with a variety of partners rallying behind the cause.
The accompanying photos show some highlights of the closing ceremony yesterday.
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