SeyCCAT has been funding projects working towards the 4th United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of ensuring “inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.” Close to SCR 1,850,000* has been delivered to projects that are equipping youth and adults with the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, education and lifestyles.
Through research into the effectiveness of Curieuse Marine National Parks at sheltering juvenile sicklefin lemon sharks, 13 Seychellois adults were trained in shark research techniques. Training workshops were held to teach surgical implantation of transmitters, methods for passive tagging, and the implementation of receiver hardware. Seminars involving a diverse range of participants took place to promote the values of biodiversity and available steps to conserve it. The aims were to improve, share and apply knowledge and ultimately, to develop local capacity for research and conservation.
Projects to produce educational materials for schools and communities have included the renewed publication of the ‘Citizen’s Guide to Climate Change’ in English, along with a Creole translation. The guide was created because of an assessment that revealed a limited understanding of the causes and impacts of climate change by the general public. The SeyCCAT grant has been used to print more copies to meet the demand from schools and translating the content into Creole has allowed for greater access and inclusivity for all Seychellois community groups. Another grant supported the creation of a ‘Blue Education’ workbook for use in secondary education which covered aspects of the blue economy, like fisheries and aquaculture. The goal is to educate youths by imparting knowledge, skills and understanding of past, current and ongoing research and projects for the sustainable use of the Seychelles marine environment, thereby creating active citizens driven to promote conservation.
SeyCCAT has also funded programmes designed to give young Seychellois practical experience within the Blue Economy (BE) with the goal of decreasing youth unemployment, developing entrepreneurial skills and raising awareness of opportunities in this sector. The 4th iteration of the ‘Blue Economy Internship Programme’ provided 27 Seychellois youth with a 2-week internship within the existing Blue Economy sectors, and through the publication on social of their experiences, raising awareness of the Blue Economy framework among the wider public. Lastly, the ongoing ‘Marine Scholarship Programme’ is providing 9-month long internships to 12 young Seychellois (18–25-year-olds) without higher education. Through in-depth practical and academic training (including PADI certification, internationally recognised underwater survey techniques and EFR first aid) the objective is to increase employment opportunities in the marine environment sector.
Simply put;
“If we want any aspect of the ‘Blue Economy’ to be durable and sustainable and actively engaged by the local Seychellois we ought to invest in the ‘Blue Education’, as education is the key to the development of any country and its people.”
– Nathalie Duval, Blue Education project lead
Contributed Lucy Lintott (SeyCCAT Intern)