Why hands-on learning is a necessity for the youth

19th July 2023

Win a spot in the upcoming D’Arros Experience 2024!

Deadline extended to the 31st of October!

‘Who is your local environmental hero?’

The Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF) is launching its next D’Arros Experience competition open to all Seychelles residents between the ages of 10 and 15. The prize? Participating in a one-week environmental education camp on D’Arros Island in the Amirantes. A total of 16 winners will be selected for participation in the program in 2024.

Programme Director Henriette Grimmel demonstrating how sharks are weighed to previous D'Arros Experience attendees. Photo by Dillys Pouponeau | © Save Our Seas Foundation

What is the D’Arros Experience?

The D’Arros Experience, initiated by the SOSF and its D’Arros Research Centre (SOSF-DRC), aims to engage young Seychellois on the importance of the ecosystems that form part of their national heritage while providing practical, hands-on field experience in a globally important ecological hotspot.

The D’Arros Experience is an important component of SOSF’s worldwide mission to promote environmental education and outreach. The idea is to provide students with a clear understanding of how ecosystems, from the coast to the deeper ocean, are connected.

Find out more by watching a short trailer of the D’Arros Experience below:

What is the competition?

The competition candidates will be judged on their submissions of a detailed profile of a person that inspires them to care about the Seychelles environment, whether on land or at sea. This person can be working in the environmental sector for an NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) or government or be teaching about ecosystems in your school. This person can also be someone in your family, friends or neighbourhood that invests a substantial amount of their own time into helping the environment, for example, by cleaning beaches regularly or advocating for better waste management.

It is important that (a) the person inspires you to care and (b) the person is helping the environment.

We want to see evidence in your submissions that you have spoken to that person, whether directly or virtually and learnt about them and their work.

Exploring the coral reefs and experiencing the abundant marine life around D'Arros Island. Photo Dillys Pouponeau | Save Our Seas Foundation

How to apply?

To apply, download the competition guidelines and read the rules and regulations here.
You have the option to fill out the application form directly online, which you can access here or download the application form here.

Submissions are accepted until Saturday, 31st October 2023 (23:59 GMT+4). Submissions can be uploaded directly into the Google form or can be sent to competition@saveourseas.com with the subject line “SOSF D’Arros Experience 2024_FirstName_LastName”.

For those unable to send in digital versions or copies of submissions to the above email address, there is the option to hand in hard copies at the Minsitry of Education. Please address these to Lynndina Essack, Competition D’Arros Experience 2023, Ministry of Education, Mont Fleuri.

Competition documents:

SOSF D’Arros Experience 2023 Competition Guidelines-Rules-Regulations
SOSF D’Arros Experience 2023 Application Form