Seychelles Project

Welcome to this page telling you more about the County project to help Scouting in the Seychelles. We hope that this will tell you more about the Seychelles, our project and what the rest of the County is doing. Feel free to send in your comments and details of what your District has done.

What is the Seychelles Project?

The Seychelles - a unique, unspoilt group of islands in the Indian Ocean - a holiday resort. Perhaps thought of as a rich paradise Island. Maybe, but Scouting in the Seychelles in its present state has only been running for the past 10 years and lacks many resources we take for granted.

Where are the Seychelles?

The Seychelles lie just south of the equator in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Kenya. The capital Victoria on the island of Mahe is 1600km from Mombassa and 32001km from Bombay.

How the Project works

The project has been set up along the lines of the International Friendship Award. Every District has been linked to a Group in the Seychelles and it is with this group that Districts should make contact.

Seychelles	GLSW
1st Seychelles	Eastern Croydon
3rd Seychelles	Purley
5th Seychelles	Sutton & Cheam
6th Seychelles	Wandle
7th Seychelles	Surbiton
9th Seychelles A	Wallington, Carshalton & District
9th Seychelles B & 10th Seychelles	Central Croydon
11th Seychelles	North Croydon
13th Seychelles	Wimbledon & Merton
14th Seychelles	Kingston & Malden
17th & 18th Seychelles	Richmond upon Thames

Some simple suggestions to help you get started!

Write to your twinned group in the Seychelles. Tell them about your District and some of the activities you have done.

Make a display with a group name tape from each of your groups and your District/Borough badge. You may like to extend this and send them a scarf from each of your Groups.

Set up collection points for aluminium cans. Recycle them and use the proceeds to purchase some resources.

If you are restocking on badges then buy a couple of extras.

When you are putting away your camping equipment back into the stores is there something hidden away that you no longer use.

If your groups are holding Jumble Sales/Car Boot Sales look out for Scouting publications that are in good condition. Even old books have good ideas!

Remember The project is about giving members of GLSW an international experience and giving Districts the opportunity to gain the International Friendship Award. Much of this can be done by groups pooling their resources and does not mean large scale fund raising.

Facts about the Seychelles

The Seychelles are an archipelago made up of 115 Islands of which 21 are inhabited. The islands cover an area of 1.3 million sq. km.
Average max temperature is 30°C and average sunshine of 7 hrs a day.
Annual rainfall 2000mm. The heaviest rainfall is during mid December to mid January.
Average humidity is 75%.
Official languages are Creole, English and French.
Currency of the Seychelles is the Seychelles Rupee.
There are 11 species of birds which are only found in the granite Seychelles including some of the rarest in the world.

Useful contacts

Assistant County Commissioner International
John Taylor (Chairman of Seychelles Steering Group)
Hallam Carter-Pegg (Finance)
Seychelles UK Tourist Office
Seychelles Tourist Board
Seychelles Scout Association

To arrange to borrow display material - contact Assistant County Commissioner International

What we have already achieved

Several dispatches of needed badges
Over 300 letters sent to companies asking for sponsorship or assistance
Distribution of packs to District Commissioners in February 1999
We have already received equipment from several Districts
Scouting Magazine is now being provided to the Seychelles
Talking points and Focus on GLSW is also sent to the Seychelles
Other miscellaneous resources have also been provided.
Programme Resource Book issued free to every section of the County.
A container full of resources including tentage was dispatched in May 2001
The County ran an expedition to the Seychelles in August 2001
Provided Home Hospitality to 2 Venture Scouts and a Leader attending St George's Day Parade at Windsor in 2002
Took part in Queen's Jubilee Service Parade
Provided a Display at Gilwell Reunion 2002