Paired in groups of 3 to 4, all the interns were assigned specific days to blog about and all give our views on what we see and learn. Nikita and Sarah who are part of my group are currently blogging about the two different projects SYAH Mauritius is working on, “Seeing Blue” and “Tap Water Revolution”. So basically I’m just doing an overview of my thoughts about SYAH Mauritius itself. Starting with lazy interns groaning and dragging ourselves to breakfast with barely open eyes, the day started off rather quiet but knowing us enthusiastic interns by the time we reached Ebene in the Indian Ocean Commission offices (IOC) laughs and giggles erupted from our loud spirited group, all eager to learn new things related to the blue economy, we walked in with note books and pens ready in our hands, broad smiles stretched on our faces and open minds ready to tackle on any situation thrown our way. First introductions were made where we got to meet the co-founders of SYAH Mauritius Karuna and Meghna who basically talked about roles of SYAH in Mauritius and answered any questions we had to ask and mind me, we ask a lot of questions so it’s safe to say that they were very informative. We as interns who got firsthand experience how SYAH is in Seychelles we saw major differences in the two organisations. To me personally the main thing that got my attention was the lack of young people involved, and I’m not just talking about volunteers, I’m talking about actual SYAH members. The ladies talking to us themselves mentioned that there isn’t many SYAH members in Mauritius and that’s a problem. So this is me calling for more Mauritians youth to join SYAH - Mauritius and make a difference in your country. It’s the same for our country, 20 people won’t kick it, and we need more. Seychelles is a small island estate with barely as many people as Mauritius so it’s easier to get a message across especially since we have quite a few people passing it on. SYAH- Mauritius is open to youth as young as 13 years old, that’s enough, if an adult sees a young person so interested in saving and protecting our seas it has a 98% chance of influencing the adult to do the same, it’s just how the human mind works. Everybody has a voice, it’s just how you use it and to whom, how will thinking up ideas of protecting our blue economy. Besides doing nothing about it will not help your country in any way. Getting the opportunity to visit and learn about our neighbouring country Mauritius has been an opportunity of a lifetime and it’s not even over yet. Mind you, it’s not only us learning is it? Mauritian people talk to us and answer our questions, seeing how the two countries are different and what one is doing that the other one isn’t influences change for the better amongst both countries. Before I end my first blog from Mauritius I just want to mention the end of our day. We were taken to the Tamarin hotel where we were set in groups and had to think up ideas of how to promote SYAH and its projects, in other words, how to raise awareness amongst the public who are oblivious. I’m proud to say my fellow interns and I came up with good ideas that I’m sure the SYAH members with us would take into consideration. At the end of the day a group of girls and a boy from our group performed for them along with all the Mauritians and tourists around the hotel. They danced sega, kanmtole and various other local dances performed in Seychelles, they were also joined by some Mauritians which got everybody smiling. “Would you like to live in a place where the trees around you died every day, your home that was full of life was now dull, dirty and colourless, like living in a junk yard and no one was doing anything to help you, but just making it worse? Well that’s what the fish and sea creatures go through every day, how long will they be able to stand this before they simply perish?” Written by: Marianna Naya
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AuthorThe interns of the Prosperity & Environment: Promoting sustainable development opportunities for youth in the Blue Economy sector. Archives
January 2018
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