The Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles (WCS) is a youth NGO that was formed in 1994, and it is dedicated to promoting conservation action through environmental education. Today, about 800 children throughout Seychelles belong to wildlife clubs and are members of WCS. WCS is completely run by volunteers; and most of the clubs are led by teachers, as well as some parents and community volunteers, and meet after school, on weekends, and during school holidays. WCS activities provide opportunities for students and their leaders to learn about their environment, to participate in environmental action, and to be a force for positive change. For more information, see http://www.nature.org.sc/wcs.htm
The majority of Seychellois children are now well educated in environmental matters, so that they are starting to sensitize their parents at home, for example on the need to protect green turtles (a CITES-listed species on Appendix I). In traditional Seychellois cuisine, turtle and dolphin curries are delicacies; however, consumption of these delicacies are not only illegal (banned by law) but they are also perceived as immoral by the vast majority of children. On the occasion of Biodiversity Day 2003, the Ministry of Environment rallied a large crowd of people in the capital Victoria demanding to ”Save the Turtles.”
For more information, see http://www.ioseaturtles.org/
profile_monthApr2004.htm or contact Jeanne Mortimer at jmort@nersp.nerdc.ufl.edu