Christmas is a time for giving: 5 ways it’s done in Seychelles

(Seychelles News Agency) 

(Seychelles News Agency) - Celebrating Christmas means many people tend to reach a little deeper into their pocket. Families and friends gather for lunches and gift sharing. It is also a time of giving to the less fortunate. During this time of goodwill, organizations or individuals in Seychelles make an effort to share.

SNA looks at 5 acts being done in Seychelles for the less fortunate that will bring warmth to their heart and a smile to their face.

     1. Singing for charity

Sing and win $1850 for a good cause. “The Office Choir – Sing for Charity,” organized by the Seychelles Broadcasting Cooperation [SBC], brings together choirs from various organizations to compete for the first prize.

Beforehand, each organization identifies the cause they want to represent – be it an association, a family or an individual. The winning choir hands their prize to their chosen cause.

Other causes are given exposure allowing other people to learn about them and hopefully, donate something to them.

(Kurtis Lespoir) CC-BY

     2. Helping those in need

Each one of us can give for a good cause. Seychellois Clifford Mondon emphasized this through an act that he calls “Make a child smile.” Along with others, Mondon visited 13 families with children living with a disability or suffering from a chronic disease. They brought gifts in various forms.

The idea came to Mondon after having watched the elimination of “The Office Choir – Sing for Charity” competition.

“I think that something should be given to all the causes that made it to the final, not just one,” Mondon told SNA, adding that such acts will continue throughout the year.

Mondon added that he “[does] not seek recognition or reward.” 

(Clifford Mondon) Photo License: CC-BY

3. Leave something in our basket

Clients to Bravo Restaurant must have noticed the ‘Santa’s Red Christmas box’ in the centre of the establishment.

The restaurant ran a “Give a Gift – Light up a Life” campaign where people left gifts for the Children of the Nazareth and the St. Elizabeth orphanages.

Handing over of gifts took place on Wednesday.

(Bravo Restaurant) Photo License: CC-BY

4. Party with the children

Various organisations in the 115-island archipelago in the western Indian Ocean hold lunches or parties for less fortunate children.

One such company is Skychef. 

On December 20, orphans from the President’s Village, Foyer de la Providence, Foyer de Nazareth and Foyer de la Solitude enjoyed cakes, muffins and gingerbread men among many other treats during a party at the Skychef headquarters at Pointe Larue.

Father Christmas even made an appearance bearing a $1500 cheque to each orphanage.

(Mervyn Marie, Seychelles News Agency) Photo license: CC-BY

 5. Christmas Carol

To cheer up many and put others in the Christmas spirit, different choirs go Christmas caroling. They might not come bearing material gifts, but the song that they choose bring hope into the heart of all.

The “Mahe Chamber Choir” sang traditional carols and music from Handel, Pentatonix, John Rutter among others for the public on Sunday 18.

(Raymond Clarisse) Photo License: CC-BY