The international community celebrated today the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) under the theme “Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world.”

IDPD is a global observance celebrated every year on December 3 with a motive to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society. Nearly one billion people out of the total population i.e, 7 billion or approximately 15 per cent of the world’s population, live with some form of disability. 80 per cent of the total disabled population live in developing countries.

The annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992 by United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. It aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

In his message on the day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said:” Realizing the rights, agency, and leadership of persons with disabilities will advance our common future. We need everyone, including persons with disabilities, on board to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.” ”Around the world, persons with disabilities and their representative organizations are taking action to realize the call: ‘Nothing about us, without us’. COVID-19 has laid bare the persistent barriers and inequalities faced by the world’s 1 billion persons with disabilities, who have been among the hardest hit by the pandemic. A disability-inclusive pandemic response and recovery should be guided by persons with disabilities themselves, forge partnerships, tackle injustice and discrimination, expand access to technology and strengthen institutions to create a more inclusive, accessible, and sustainable postCOVID-19 world.” ”I urge all countries to fully implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, increase accessibility, and dismantle legal, social, economic and other barriers with the active involvement of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations,” he added.

”On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, let us commit to build a sustainable, inclusive and just future for everyone, leaving no one behind,” he concluded.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ZCZC

Seychelles

55 graduate from UniSey

The University of Seychelles yesterday hosted its graduation ceremony, which saw 55 graduate from their respective study programmes, from Bachelor degrees up to Master’s level programmes.

During the ceremony, attended by President Wavel Ramkalawan, the graduates were presented with their certifications, and the high achievers presented with awards, in recognition of their efforts, hard work and dedication over the course of study. Rajelle Barbé was awarded as the best performer for the Bachelor of Science (Honours) Environmental Science, after being awarded a first class in her programme of study.

Vice-chancellor of the University of Seychelles (UniSey) Joëlle Perreau during her address to constitute the graduation ceremony, commended the graduates, especially after having to adjust and adapt to the Covid-19 pandemic, and new learning and teaching modes implemented by the institution, to still deliver while public health measures are enforced.

“Your graduating class has endured and overcome exceptional uncertainty and challenges. Let us celebrate your tenacity, resilience, determination as well as your growth today, as we applaud your exceptional results. This difficult and unprecedented time has, undoubtedly, enriched you as a human being and has also added to your great academic success,”said vice-chancellor Perreau.

“You have had to adapt yourselves to the “new normal” and adopt new learning contexts. Most of you have had to follow lectures online and even sit for your final exams virtually. I know how difficult this sudden change was but you can all be proud of yourselves today because you sailed through the rough times successfully.UniSey is satisfied with the quality and quantity of new graduates that we are conferring today,” added Ms Perreau.

She also spoke of the numerous achievements of the institution over the years, reaccreditation over the past year, as well as efforts to further better the higher education institution in future.

Vice-chancellor Perreau and UniSey registrar Indra Persaud presented the certifications to the graduates in courses offered by the institution itself, and others offered in collaboration with partner universities, namely Bachelor of Arts in English, Bachelor of Science in Computing and Information Systems, Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Science in Banking and Finance.

Graduates who have successfully completed study programmes including Masters in Educational Leadership, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Human Resources Management, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with International Business, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Marketing, Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Environmental Science, Postgraduate Certificate in Legal Practice, Masters of Business Administration, Masters of Science in Marine Science and Sustainability, and Masters of Arts in Tourism and Sustainable Management, were also remitted with their certificates.

The best performers for the different programmes were also recognised and awarded. Graduates who have been awarded a first class in their undergraduate studies will receive a scholarship for the pursuit of a degree at Master’s level sponsored by the government of Seychelles, through the Agency for National Human Resource Development (ANHRD).

Rajelle Barbé was awarded as the best performer for the Bachelor of Science (Honours) Environmental Science, after being awarded a first class in her programme of study.

Ms Barbé was also the recipient of the S4S Colleen Morel Environmental Science Achievement Award, presented to aSeychellois student graduating with a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science at the University of Seychelles each year.

Throughout her four years of study at the University of Seychelles, she has been a strong advocate for community leadership and engagement in environment protection which has allowed for her active engagement with local community groups. Through the Ecosystem Based Adaptation (EBA) project, Ms Barbé has been able to set up five community-based groups in five EBA project sites, for which two have already registered as associations, which will ensure sustainability of community involvement in watershed management.

She has assisted in the development of various educational and awareness materials promoting watershed management and protection, and has written various newspaper articles, including co-writing a Greenpeace blog on mangrove rehabilitation at Anse Royale and a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) photo essay, highlighting local farmers’ involvement in a wetland rehabilitation programme at Baie Lazare.

Through her work with the community, she has exposed and equipped a large group of local communities to adaptation and mitigation approaches to build resilience and protect livelihood.

Her final research project at UniSey entitled ‘Assessing community participation in the rehabilitation of degraded forest on Praslin’ aimed at assessing the effectiveness of community involvement in the different stages of forest rehabilitation work on Praslin.

She is currently employed as a community engagement specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment.

“I am really happy and proud, and it has not been easy especially considering that I have children and in full-time employment, so it required much sacrifice and much energy dedicated towards my studies, and I have reaped the benefits today,” Ms Barbé told Seychelles NATION.

“I am unsure what to do next even if I have been awarded a scholarship for Masters, so I will take the time to reflect and then I will go for it. I do everything whole-heartedly, and that remains my motto moving forward,” Ms Barbé noted.

Fabien Sinon was named best performer for BSc Computing and Information Systems, and Elsie Sinon best, with a first class in Bachelor in Business Administration with specialisation in Marketing.

Best performer for the Bachelor of Laws is Imaan Jafar, while Lisette Amelie was awarded as best performer for the Masters in Educational Leadership. Ms Amelie has been awarded a distinction in her programme of study.

As for the Masters of Science in Marine Science and Sustainability, Lyn Arrisol was recognised as best performer.

Also in attendance for the ceremony were Speaker of the National Assembly Roger Mancienne, Minister for Education Dr Justin Valentin, Governor of the Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS) Caroline Abel, and university officials.

The institution offers around 35 programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Source: Seychelles Nation