COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

'Knowledge is best shared' is one of the principles of the workshop. On the third day of the workshop, the SIDS Youth AIMS Hub supported by the British High Commission organised for a series of talks to students in secondary schools on Mahe. In groups of 2 or 3, one speaking about the Commonwealth and the other two, on climate change and the importance of youth involvement to combat climate change, a series of talks were held simultaneously in the 8 schools on Mahe between 1.30 pm to 2.30 pm. 

In total, about 400 secondary school students were reached with 50 directly seeking to be part in SYAH - Seychelles as the youth-led platform for young people to advance and promote sustainable development in the Seychelles. 

Photo credit: UK in Seychelles, Rebecca Julienne 

On the final day of the workshop, in a means to not only talk but actual take action to combat climate change, the British High Commission in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment (Seychelles National Parks Authority) joined the participants of the workshop to collectively plant 300 trees on the Trois Freres trail. 

Photo Credit: UK in Seychelles

Movie Screening: Chasing Coral 

After a Tuesday morning snorkel at Petite Anse, the participants of the workshop were witness to the effects of two consecutive years of El Nino. A reported 92% mortality of the coral reef around Mahe is evident even at Petite Anse, although WISEOCEANS fight on with the latest Reef Restoration Project. With a nursery below the ocean surface, the WISEOCEANS team nurse coral fragments to good health as they protect them from threats and then place them back on the natural reef to grow back. The true plight of coral reefs is captured effectively in the documentary: Chasing Corals that brought the participants to tears which was followed by engaging discussions by young people on how to fight for coral reefs- our first natural defenders from sea level rise.