Festive spirit at President’s Village following renovations and refurbishment
Wed, 23 December 2015 | Social Affairs
President James Michel attended a special handing over ceremony of the newly renovated and refurbished Children’s Homes at the President’s Village this morning. The ceremony was attended Vice-President Danny Faure, Designated Minsiter and Minsiter for Community Development, Social Affairs and Sport, Minister Vincent Meriton, Ministers, the Director of the Children’s Homes Foundation, Mr. Jules Hoareau, Representative of Her Highness Fatima Bint Mubarak, Mr. Salem Al Neyadi, the project manager, Mr. Scott Moseley, dignitaries as well as the children of the President’s Village.
Her Highness Fatima Bint Mubarak had sponosored the 8 millon dollar renovation and refurbishment projects of the childrens homes including The President’s Village, Foyer de La Solitude, Foyer de Nazareth and Foyer de La Providence. The President’s Village and Foyer de la Solitude have been completed and Foyer de Nazareth and Foyer de La Providence are expected to be complete by January 2016. There are also plans for the building of a retirement home for the elderly at the Foyer de la Providence, to be completed by the end of June 2016.
Minister Vincent Meriton thanked Her Highness Fatima Bint Mubarak for the generosity of her donation and for her care towards the children of Seychelles.
“The love and care of the protection of our children is one of life’s great responsibilities, for children’s are life’s greatest gifts. They enrich our lives and make this world a happier place. Today on behalf of the Government, I would like to extend our deepest appreciation and gratitude to Her Highness Fatima Bint Mubarak for working with us, for our core belief that children should be at the centre of development. It is a special project, it is special because it is touching the lives of children in our four homes...every Seychellois child deserves to grow up in a safe and caring environment thanks to this generous gesture, the children in the homes will enjoy a better quality of life still,” said Minister Meriton in his address..
The children of the home expressed their thanks and sang Christmas carols for the President and the guests and presented the President with a gift, as well as presenting a gift for Her Highness Fatima Bint Mubarak to her representative.
President Michel and Mr. Al Neyadi unveiled the plaque for the renovated buildings of the President’s Village and then proceeded on a tour of the buildings. The President’s Village renovation project includes 20 bedrooms, 1 main kitchen and 2 pantry kitchens. 2 TV lounge rooms, 1 main dining room and 2 smaller dining areas. 4 administration offices, a meeting room, stores, music room, laundry area and playroom. All the areas have been fully furnished.
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.