President James Michel attended a special handing over ceremony of the newly renovated and refurbished children’s homes of the Roman Catholic Mission at the St. Elizabeth’s Convent in Victoria this afternoon, after visiting the Foyer de la Solitude, at La Misere and Foyer de Nazareth, at Anse Etoile.

All three homes have undergone substantial renovation and new buildings have been added to their premises. They have also been fully furnished with modern facilities and equipment.

The ceremony was attended by the Designated Minister and Minister for Community Development, Social Affairs and Sport, Minister Vincent Meriton, the Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Port Victoria, Mgr. Denis Wiehe, St. Elizabeth's Convent Mother Superior Sister Aimee, Minister for Fisheries and Agriculture,  Mr. Wallace Cosgrow, the Director of the Children’s Homes Foundation, Mr. Jules Hoareau, Representative of Her Highness Fatima Bint Mubarak, Mr. Ashraf Khatib, sisters of the convent, dignitaries as well as the children of the homes.

Her Highness Fatima Bint Mubarak had sponsored the 8 million dollar renovation and refurbishment projects of the children’s homes including The President’s Village, Foyer de La Solitude, Foyer de Nazareth and Foyer de La Providence.  All four have been completed. There are also plans for the building of a retirement home for the elderly at the Foyer de la Providence.

“ Our commitment does not end here, as we are extending our help to the elderly next door, where we are replacing the old building with a new 19 rooms block of high and modern standards, due for completion in the last quarter of this year,” said Mr. Ashraf Khatib during his address.

“ We are here to appreciate another generous gesture that is testimony of the friendship and good collaboration between the Government of Seychelles and the UAE…this reconstruction touches deeper than just the structure of the buildings, it touches the hearts and souls of the caregivers who have dedicated their lives to reaching our and helping the less fortunate. The newly renovated and refurbished homes will surely bring joy to the hearts of our little ones, who anxiously wait to enjoy the comfort it will provide,”said the Principal Secretary for Social Affairs, Mrs. Linda William-Melanie in her address.

Sister Aimee thanked Her Highness Fatima Bint Mubarak for great generosity of her donation which will provide the children with a very comfortable and pleasing surrounding in which to grow.

The children of the homes expressed their thanks and sang for the guests. They also presented the President with a gift, as well as presenting a gift for Her Highness Fatima Bint Mubarak to her representative.

Editor’s note

Her Highness Fatima Bint Mubarak is the President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, Supreme Head of Family Development Foundation, Chairman of the Business Women Council and Honorary President of the Red Crescent of the United Arab Emirates. She is the wife of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the United Arab Emirates.