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The idea of and behind our community portal project is once we have got the basic lay out and concept sorted, the appointment of individuals or group of people to manage a given page or important topic pertaining to our community affairs and functioning. This include the women section page.
Given the experiences we have accumulated the past 25 years working with our community is aware and realize that the pages would for a wile be left unattended in spite of undertakings, agreements and accords this include, La Page des femmes de notre Communaute, the women page of our community. This may be unwarranted view by the portal architect.
Currently on our portal project we have pictures of three Seychelles women who have contributed, worked and fought alongside those Seychellois men and individuals who have helped to build and make our nation what it is today.
There are other women in Seychelles who have contributed, fought and work alongside our nation, the picture of those on our portal belong to past women.
Many will be asking why did it take us so long to have a page only for the affairs of women of our community and nation including the women who accompanied the first French colon to the Indian Ocean, Ile de France - Mauritius, then Sechelles - Seychelles or Ile Bourbon - Reunion. Their role, position, function and history.
The Seychelles we were brought in was a Seychelles of good manner, respect, courteous, civility and growing up to be a colonial or tropical gentleman. Also depending upon one education, families and privileges. ( Over the years 30 odd years those who have scorn this education approach, did our grand parents failed to remember they had come from Europe, the bloody wars, state of society, corruption, religious wars, criminality, feuds, social and political upheavals to pass on to us a set of values that would render us impossible to function as men after they had gone and the next generation) This kind of upbringing, values implanted and education cannot be jettisoned overnight.
We have addressed and explained the origin of the concept to build a long term structure, grass root system for our community to exist and live in EU after the exile era and whatever would become of EU and changes in Seychelles.
Across the world, and indeed from the Indian Ocean those who have had the opportunity to debate criticized the politic of our French ancestors under the respective Kings of France, the nobility, the upper class, gentry and normal humans. Most important the function, role and purpose of women in society in the particular time or epoch leading to the wars, the collapse of the monarchy and the French Revolution. Most important the politic of colonization.
Thirty years ago when we started this work our community had important establish family system , values in place the role and position of women in our community. Be they from the old French pied noirs Sechelles - Seychelles, Indian ocean families, across Europe and Britain. It must also be remembered we are a strong Christian nation people.
For the fist time we wish to take the privilege to highlight certain aspect of our early community building which have been importantly impacted by our woman and how.
In spite of our European origin, reasonable good education in Seychelles over the 150 years, the position by our woman vis a vis their men, sons in relation to the political, social and terrible economic situation of individuals or families after the 5th June 1977, historic coup detat. In such circumstances we have also been brought up to understand the female- woman of our nation can only take, rather endure so much. beyond that they fail to function as one would expect in the European world. The state of things 30 years ago.
A moment of truth for our history to confront us and our children future generation. Those individuals, men involved in taking the battle to the government in Seychelles, the global Communist or left Socialist powerful system, involving the secret service, special groups of interest and their influences the very grave dangers. Those Seychellois men and individuals who found themselves having to rely on European women to support them in this terrible battle. Be it when they were at the bottom of the pit or when there was something to be jubilant about. The terrible impact this had on family life, values, moral values and greater objective. For the men it was war, though our mothers and girls had read, heard and discussed war this was a real war and battle field. The terrible impact it had.
We have often taken the time to ponder the emotion running through our women, those who were made or became aware in the existence of humanity, the events of history before the first world, the many wars which rage across Europe, the revolutions, abolition of monarchy, the war in in the tropics and colonies, then the second world war. The role of women, their position. We may add also biblical events and incidents. Then of course they differ from nation to nation and their temperaments and culture.
Under the Leader ship of Mr Gerrard Houreau the MPR/SNM a strong and vigorous effort was put in place to organize, put in place appropriate possibilities that our women become organize, committed, get together, contribute to function and social events and support their men, sons in the ensuing battle which was raging. After his assassination the total collapse of what had been started and the state of things which followed.
Every nation have a role, position for their women again this differ from culture, society belief and geography. Every nation is proud demands that their women become and get committed in such very terrible time - sacrifice and situation. For this reason because of their belief, conviction they are prepared to lay down their lives, suffer whatever may befall them journey into the unknown as part of their functionality as human species the male species.
A particularly important aspect of our community and national history which must be taken into account is the time of the SIROP exile return program later the involvement of SNM/MPR, CDU, the Opposition in Seychelles, Movement pour la Democracy, DP and others. Those women in Britain who took the decision after the assassination of Mr Gerrard Houreau to support this exile return program, including our Women community in USA, Canada and Australia very importantly in the USA.
After the collapse of the program, even after the group of leading exiles had return to Seychelles, multi party reintroduced and a 3rd Republic announced the luke worm respond our woman displayed. Had they expected more or greater outcome. All these are fundamentals of what our Seychelles EU community is today and the children born of that era - time.
It must be noted that, the combative war like personality which their European counterpart those women who have never migrated from Europe cannot be over night be acquired. This exclude the education, the exposure to mass media, politic, society, culture and demand as mothers or the role of woman in a given respective society in EU.
Beside the institutions of the EU in the national countries of their residence there are vast array of institutions which support, contribute, involve, promote and defend the position, role of woman in society, community and family. As our community strive to build certain measures of functionality, the apparent lack of awareness, participation, involvement of our women, the challenges it poses to building our grass roots adequately, those who refuse or prefer not to respond to the men sons who want to go out there and do something for their community and nation.
Seychelles today is well known as a Tourist destination and the immediate image which come to the mind of those involved in the mass media and commercialization of life. The important efforts the government and the NGO in Seychelles have been striving against.
Indeed during the era of the USAF Tracking station those USA satellite Tracking Station workers who joined the service not for the money but the Seychelles women. both the positive and negative impacts. The impact on the long term stature of the nation.
In the golden book of our ancestors there are many names of leading women who have work, fought, toiled and stood by their men to build Ile D'abondance, Sechelles - Seychelles and the foundation of its capital, L'Etablissement du Rois Victoria. Those colonies of the Indian Ocean.
Our community in EU have been called upon by history, to take a some what greater share of responsibilities than is normally expected. We have been called upon to be leading lights, contribute to major issues, across the vast spectrum of development in EU society. The need for our women to appreciate this and attempt to come to grip with what is demanded of them and raise our children be mothers.
Like wise Seychelles, the Indian Ocean and African Union demands and is placing great constraints on the role, position of our women. Beside the UN and church demands. The important fight and battle on the hand of our women. The world we live in and exist today is full of trouble and problematic with out having to list them and detail them here. Once again the terrible demand, requirements and role of our women if we are to succeeded.
We pray and trust that over the years ahead as we strive to build our community in EU and nation - a much more positive effort and contribution by the women of our EU community will become visible, the practice. Those who are currently involved encouraged, supported and adequately rewarded. Most important their challenge to build their own very dynamic presence on our community portal project, functionality and role. . .
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