Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles welcomes new committee
The Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles elected its new committee during their annual general meeting held recently in the School of Education, at Mont Fleuri.
Having been under the leadership of sister non-governmental organisation the Nature Seychelles for a number of years, it is now in total control of its activities and membership and it is being run by volunteers both at committee and club levels.
The committee has Michele Martin as the chairperson, Christelle Jacques vice-chairperson, Brenda Andimignon treasurer, and ordinary members Wilna Figaro and Achille Luc.
During the meeting the regional coordinators were also nominated.
Mrs Martin said it has been carrying out local actions and indoor activities with school members through a detailed set of programmes at national level for a long time.
“Leaders have been using these to adapt to their needs, and tailor them to suit their own ideas and abilities at club level,” she said.
The organisation is looking into the possibility of appointing a full-time paid coordinator to help manage its projects and activities, if funding is made available in the near future.
The meeting also corrected and approved changes in some irregularities in the constitution.
As from last year 2009, clubs activities have been boost up by two major projects which helped them with some financing to move forward.
These are the on-going Mangroves For the Future project entitled: Mangroves Are a Must.
In this, clubs are carrying out activities that lead to learning about wetlands and mangroves areas, their threats, the opportunities for human wellbeing and better understanding of climate change related issues.
It also entails their potential impacts on people if they are not willing to contribute to the conservation of coastal ecosystems.
The other project is funded by Seacology - an environment organisation based in the United States which finances initiatives in small islands.
The initiatives in return have to promote and carry out conservation action on the islands and help to preserve important species and places by local people.
“The project will allow clubs to produce several murals in key areas in schools or in the community, flyers and other publications for members and partners ,as well as help clubs better develop their heritage gardens through seed grants to advance their projects,” Mrs Martin said.
Both projects with their financing mechanisms are serving as a form of motivator to ensure that activities are not only carried out at school-based level but engaging local communities to partner in and to learn from their efforts.
A series of wetlands and other coastal activities have been integrated into the wildlife clubs programme.
The Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles is the only youth environmental organisation with a very large membership of mainly school children and other youths led by mostly school teachers and some community volunteers.
It seeks to promote conservation action through education of children, teachers and parents for the benefit of the school, the community and the society.
Forthcoming activities include a mangrove safari at Port Launay on Saturday April 17, wetlands and climate change workshop for secondary school members, an interactive display for the national Child Protection Day on May 23, and the National Day NGO village at Roche Caiman.
For further information or if you wish to make a contribution or take part in any of the clubs’ programmes please email: wildlifeclubsofseychelles@gmail.com . Volunteers are welcomed.