Roche Caiman - They converged from every sector of the country’s educational set-up. They were meeting to discuss their achievements and drawbacks for the year 2007 and set the pace for the upcoming year.

This was the Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles (WCS) Annual General Meeting, which was held at the Education and Environment Centre at Roche Caiman.

The conference room was packed with teachers representing various WCS clubs from all over Seychelles. Keenly following the proceedings of the meeting one could clearly see that on these teachers’ shoulders rested the heavy responsibility of some 600 WCS members.

It was this saddle and other pressing issues that the teachers had congregated with to address. In a bid to be more pro-active and recognizing their need to be in touch with the dynamic nature facing the youth of Seychelles, the agenda of the day discussed a 5-year Strategic Plan. As one would expect of many AGM’s disappointment was severely absent. Instead, jokes, common staff room and nature trail banter spiced with streaks of humour were what percolated the meeting.

Throughout the assembly, the teachers did agree that there was a strong need and desire to repackage WCS as a forward looking organization. It was with this in mind that the WCS membership is being bolstered for the challenges of the future. Usage of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) was also discussed at length with a view of incorporating new media technologies to shore up what has already been achieved and keep up with the current generation. Indeed the convergence of new media technologies is a facet that has been integrated in other conservation areas and WCS is now on the verge of accentuating the same.

The huge challenge of financing respective clubs to be able to meet their obligations and general objectives of WCS was also an issue that came up for discussion. Members wracked their brains in search of innovative ways to secure funding to facilitate club interactions and related activities.

“WCS has ceaselessly held on its vantage position as one of the lead agents and Seychelles’ greatest proponents of environmental education. Together with the ministries of environment and education, we see it as a calling to impart environmental knowledge to our future generations and posterity” said Dr Nirmal Shah, CEO of Nature Seychelles.

During the AGM the elections of the Executive Board Members were also conducted. Dr Shah was retained unopposed as Chair and other top officials were unanimously voted in. They are Brenda Andimignon-Vice Chair, Terence Vel-Treasurer, Michelle Martin-Secretary, Wilna Figaro-Special Events Coordinator and Lyndy Bastienne-Coordinator. As the Chairperson signaled, everyone’s roles on the committee need to be clearly defined for a better spread of responsibilities. Regional representatives voted in are Jerry Sinon for North, Martha Labrosse for South West, Assunta Julienne for East, Gracia Labiche for Central and Sylvia Esther for Inner Islands.

It is this team that is expected to drive WCS into the ‘brave new world’ and equip the country’s youth with the necessary firmaments of an eco-friendly knowledge-based society. It is a heavy burden indeed.

http://www.natureseychelles.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=321&Itemid=60