Launch of the Regional Youth Parliament

From April 15 to 18, Seychelles will host the inaugural session of the Indian Ocean Regional Youth Parliament (PRJIO).

This first meeting coincides with the 39th Council of Ministers of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), held in the same country. Thirty participants, from the member states of the Union of the Comoros, Réunion, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles, were selected from 184 applications.

These young leaders were chosen as part of the “Governance, Peace, and Stability” (GPS) project, funded by the French Development Agency (AFD). “The objective is to give a strong voice to the youth of the Indian Ocean region and to actively involve them in regional development,” the official press release states.

The inaugural session will allow representatives to familiarize themselves with the region’s shared challenges while strengthening their leadership, communication, advocacy, and networking skills. A key aspect of this meeting will be the definition of the Parliament’s operating model and action plan, a space dedicated to promoting citizen participation.

Education, innovation, and inclusion will be at the heart of their commitments to a prosperous shared future. This Parliament will provide emerging leaders from the Indian Ocean region with a platform to participate in decisions that impact their future and that of their region.

This day celebrates the commitment of those who shape the solidarity economy and strengthens their role in the Mauritian productive fabric.