On the occasion of International Youth Day, 12 August, I wish to salute our young men and women for their love for our Seychelles and for building on the successes of our country .  More than half of our population is aged 15 – 30 years old. You are the architects, the builders, the protectors, of this country. My confidence in your abilities keeps growing as I see more young men and women making the most of the opportunities made available to you. We see more youths shining in sports, the arts, in leadership programs, educational activities, on the academic front, in entrepreneurship. Whether it is on the local scene or on the international stage, young Seychellois have shown that when given the  opportunities, they make great things happen.

As a government, it is our duty to prepare you for the challenges that come your way. We will continue to equip you with the knowledge and the skills you need to succeed. But it is you who must have the responsibility to make the most of the opportunities.

We need to empower all our citizens to strive for our Seychelles if we truly want to succeed, as individuals and as a nation. To the youths who have fallen victims of negative influences, we are always there to help you start a new life.  To those who are not maximising their potentials, you to have belief in yourselves and keep on endeavouring to achieve the success that you aspire for in life.

You have the power to transform the world, to make it a  better place for all generations, present and future. Your enthusiasm and your natural energy need to drive our advancement. As is stated in the theme chosen by the United Nations for the commemoration of this day, “Building a Better World: Partnering with Youth”, you have to be active participants in shaping a better future for us all. In Seychelles there is a range of programs for youth inclusion in the lives of communities and nation.  In this ever changing world, so much is expected of you. As we set new goals for the further development of our society, we need your participation more than ever. Every little effort on the part of the youths counts.

I take this opportunity to commend all organisations for the good work they are doing for our young people. These organizations, among them government agencies, NGOs and religious groups,  are taking care of the future of the whole of Seychelles.

In our country, the potentials of the youths are truly recognised. This is why I will keep on encouraging success that is driven by our young people. And I will continue to support initiatives that enable our youths to flourish. Your actions can, certainly, make a difference to the world.