Victoria, Seychelles—The Universal Peace Federation - Seychelles hosted its third Annual General Meeting (AGM) at CEPS Conference Room, Orion Mall, Victoria, Mahé Seychelles, on Saturday, April 1, 2023, sponsored by the UPF-Seychelles Executive Committee. The AGM was aimed at seeking more members and bringing forth the awareness of “Building a national goal of peace.”
UPF-Seychelles operates as an independent, voluntary, and non-profit organization. The vision of the Association is to sensitize the general public to build a national goal of peace in which every Seychellois can live in freedom, harmony, cooperation, and prosperity. The Association is registered with the Registrar of Associations as prescribed by the laws of the Republic of Seychelles.
Members and affiliates who attended the AGM 2023 reconfirmed the seven (7) Executive Committee members who were elected on a two-year mandate during the AGM 2021, as follows: Chairperson: Mr. Roger Alphonse; Vice-Chairperson: Ms. Anna Faerber; Secretary: Mrs. Suganda Betioux; Treasurer: Mr. Jacob Terence Madeleine; Secretary-General: Mrs. Rosemary Elizabeth; and two Ordinary members: Mr. Wilven Alcindor and Miss Brisiola Niole (the youth representative), and honorary member, Ms. Diana Benoit.
The AGM 2023 began at 10 am with remarks by Mr. Roger Alphonse, the chairperson, who welcomed the invited guests and members, followed by an opening prayer by the vice-chairperson, Ms. Anna Faeber.
The chairperson also emphasized that every member should know the “Vision, Mission and Objective” of UPF-Seychelles. He also touched base on the motive and objectives of UPF-Seychelles and outlined the activities conducted by UPF-Seychelles over the five-year period of 2018-2022.
Next, the treasurer, Mr. Jacob Terence Madeleine, gave a financial account of the Association, stating that the Association had not carried out many financial activities for the financial year 2022. This was followed by the call to bring in more members, especially the youth, and the need for UPF-Seychelles to work with all stakeholders at hand, including the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC).
The vice-chair, Ms. Anna Faerber, repeated the call to acquire additional members and introduced the proposed calendar of activities of UPF-Seychelles for this year 2023. The activities of the Association for this year will include character education workshops, Association meetings, workshops to recruit more members, visits to low-income families, and the annual Peace Day festival which will be conducted on September 21, 2023.
This was followed by a time for questions, whereby the members and affiliates placed emphasis on the need to enhance the communication channels within the Association and amongst the members. The secretary-general also emphasized the need for UPF-Seychelles to be more visible within the country, especially through the use of the media. She stated that UPF-Seychelles should be all out to sell itself to the general public.
The Reports, Calendar of Activities, and Appointment of Auditor were then approved by all present.
The AGM concluded with closing remarks by the secretary-general, Mrs. Rosemary Elizabeth, who also called to action the members to go out and seek more members to be registered and /or affiliated with UPF-Seychelles. She stated that the Association is mandated to promote peace, love, unity, happiness, and good values which are currently lacking in our motherland. UPF-Seychelles intends to work effectively alongside representatives of government, businesses, civil societies, and the community in general, to promote and enhance peace within our small island State.
Her closing final remark was short and sweet: “Violence brings war but Love brings Peace. So let us live Love that brings Peace and not war, which brings about violence and crime!”
The AGM was adjourned around 12:30 pm, and the members and affiliates present were treated to refreshments.
The Executive Committee and members of UPF-Seychelles would like to thank CEPS Management for the logistics and their assistance during our AGM 2023. Our sincere thanks are also conveyed to Mrs. Suganda Betioux for her active participation in our AGM 2023, for the arrangements of the CEPS Conference Room, and her help in the cleanup of the room afterward, as we continue to “live for the sake of others”.