Heritage: Creation inspiring our young generation

Heritage: Creation inspiring our young generation

19-April-2016

Two hundred and forty years ago Mission Lodge, better known as Venn’s Town, was an industrial institution and sanctuary.

It accommodated children of liberated African slaves and those born of African parents who worked on various plantations. The children learned carpentry, gardening, bible stories and psalm singing.

Yesterday, the younger generations were able to learn about the history of Mission Lodge and how children lived during those times as part of the activities being organised to commemorate this year’s Heritage Week.

The Seychelles Heritage Foundation is organising these events to educate the children on the history of our country.

Live artworks were done by students from the Seychelles Institution of Arts and Design (SIAD), children from the heritage club of Anse Boileau performed role plays to display what the liberated slave children went through and historian Tony Mathiot explained the many aspects of ruins history.

Present during the ceremony were the special advisor to the minister for culture Patrick Nanty, representatives from the Seychelles National Park Authority (SNPA), community development and sports department, Ephelia Resort, Mason’s Travel, heritage club members and other guests.

In her remarks, Seychelles Heritage Foundation (SHF) chief executive Meira Savy said the Mission Ruins heritage site is one of Seychelles’ most valuable properties from both environmental and cultural perspectives and it is a place of extreme symbolism, serenity, absolute peace and inspiration.

“Apart from its fascinated history, this place is also a home to a rich variety of endemic plants, it is for these various reasons that the redevelopment of the site remains a top priority for the Seychelles Heritage Foundation,” she said.

She also presented the ‘Naming of endemic trees’ project that has recently been completed.

This project aims to contribute towards educating the visitors and children on the rich and diverse endemic plants found in the hill of Sans Soucis and the Morne Seychellois park.

Ms Savy extended her gratitude to all individuals, partners and stakeholders who helped in one way or another to make the project a success.

SHF senior education and communication officer Katrina Souffe said the continuation of the programme will involve educating children from all 17 heritage clubs and even those who are not part of the clubs on the true history of Mission Lodge.

Guests were also listened to a poem by Raspyek, and were entertained by the National Choir and Angel’s choir.

The activities continue on Praslin today (April 19) with the unveiling of the Four Laso board and opening a trail at Anse Takamaka, Ile de Palmes.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=249140