Strangers. That’s how it all started. We were just random faces around a table listening to the person up front talking whilst taking a few notes here and there. 9 days. That is all it took for 13 interns and 3 chaperons to turn into a family by heart; a family worth of holding on to.
We came to Mauritius to educate ourselves more about the blue economy there and experience things the Mauritian way you could say. But, now sitting on this plane going home to Seychelles, it’s safe to say that, I appreciate my country much more and defending it and protecting it in any way I can, will be at the front of my mind every day. Mauritius isn’t huge if you look at it on a world map but compared to Seychelles it’s much larger. So, of course, creating awareness or getting people on board with “saving the ocean” won’t be as easy as it would in a small archipelago like Seychelles. These few days going to conferences, talks, visits and simply sitting on the hotel floor with the other interns joking around and playing domino or simply just messing around amongst ourselves made me realise how close we are, not as people but countries. Yes there’s a desert of sea between us but that’s it, the people are similar, the languages and our joie de vivre. Other than all the first hand experiences all of us interns and chaperones have gained, we are all back home with something much more valuable than experience, and that is, a new mind set. I for one already have my mug that I have started walking around everywhere since I landed yesterday to minimise the amount of plastic mugs and bottles I would have usually used, yes it’s not a big change and probably will only make a small difference but it sets an example and if we all try and do something small to make a change in this world we will see one. “Awareness is the key to greatness” Do something, anything no matter how small. Try, you would be surprised how many lives you might be saving just by not buying one plastic bottle. Till we meet again my fellow readers. Written by: Mariana 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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