Survival Ark Foundation facilitators certified

A group of 35 facilitators and assistant facilitators received certificates after completing a training programme conducted especially for the Survival Ark Foundation (Saf) kids holiday programme in December.

The aim of the workshops led by representatives from the Grace Family Network during three consecutive Saturdays was to support and strengthen these facilitators and youth with knowledge, leadership skills and developmental activities by promoting moral excellence, self-confidence, community support and positive shared opportunities.

These adults, secondary and post secondary students who will be helping to run this programme have been equipped with the necessary knowledge, skill and attitude required to provide quality services to the children which will be aged 4 to 12 years old.

The facilitators also learned how to conduct presentations, manage a group of children, handle misbehaviour and provide support to them and their parents.

The facilitators empowerment programme (FEP) was funded under the civil society small grant programme 2017 and the certificate presentation ceremony was held at the Seychelles Community Training Institute (Secti) building at Roche Caiman.

In her opening remarks Saf chairperson Françoise Larue said the foundation felt this training was well-needed as there were certain inefficiencies in their previous programmes.

“We lacked certain knowledge and expertise in a few areas so we felt the necessity to train the facilitators to equip them with new skills not only to work with the children in the holiday special but also in their places of work and respective schools,” she said.

She also expressed her gratitude to the Citizens Engagement Platform (Ceps) and the government for the allocation of the funds to run this short training.

Ceps’ chief executive Michel Pierre said the committee saw this project as a very important one.

“We feel that during the holidays the youth have nowhere to spend their time which then leads them to bad influences so this activity helps to empower the youth and allows them to develop their skills,” he said.

Katrina Vidot said she took part in the workshop so she could better understand children and their needs.

“It helped enrich my knowledge of how to take good care of children while also transmitting information and educating them on moral values when it comes to being a good citizen in the society,” she said.