September 14, 2025
First Lady, Mrs. Linda Ramkalawan
Speaker of the National Assembly, Honorable Mr. Roger Mancienne
Minister of Education, Dr. Justin Valentin
Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, Honorable Mr. Sebastien Pillay
Chairman IECD Local Board, Dr. Javier Rose
Governing Board and Local Board Members
Principal Secretaries
Chairperson and Members of the Excellence Award Committee
Home-based Childminders and their families
Partners in Early Childhood Care and Education, and Development
Distinguished Guests,
A very warm good evening to you all!
Welcome everyone to the inaugural Childminders’ Excellence Award Ceremony for 2025. Indeed, it is an historic moment for Seychelles!
Today, we celebrate the backbone of early childhood development: our incredible childminders. These heroes juggle endless responsibilities with resilience and often, a good sense of humor – creating safe, nurturing spaces where children can thrive, and sometimes, where they teach us a thing or two about patience.
Tonight’s awards honor those who exemplify professionalism, dedication, and compassion in building the foundation for confident, curious, future leaders. Their work is no small feat; they manage tantrums, tiny messes, and big dreams, all while maintaining high standards—and probably a few secret superhero capes.
This event coincides with Early Childhood Educators’ Day – an increasingly important reminder of how vital these professionals are. It’s a day to applaud their ongoing growth and the profound impact they have on shaping our future, one tiny human at a time and occasionally, a tiny human with a big attitude.
Historically, recognition of early childhood educators gained momentum in the late 20th century, emphasizing that early learning is the cornerstone of lifelong success. Tonight, Seychelles proudly affirms its commitment to this crucial sector with its first-ever Childminders’ Excellence Award. A giant leap toward quality, accessible care for all our children.
On this note, I wish to thank the IECD boards, staff, partners in ECCE and the independent committee responsible for working on and judging this excellence award. You all made this possible with your steadfast support and commitment.
Thank you for joining us in celebrating Seychelles’ remarkable childminders. Your presence tonight highlights the importance of early childhood development and its profound impact on our community and future. Let us continue to support and uplift the remarkable work being done, because behind every great child is a childminder who is just as great.
I thank you.
