Seychelles Creole Academy

‘Lakademi Kreol Sesel’

Functions of the Seychelles Creole Academy

The functions of the Seychelles Creole Academy are to—

(a) establish the Seychelles Creole Academy as the authority on all issues pertaining to the use of Seychellois Creole language, its orthography, vocabulary and grammar;

(b) promote the Seychellois Creole language locally and internationally, through seminars, exhibitions, publications or audiovisual productions;

(c) assist local authors writing in Seychellois Creole language, by providing technical and financial assistance, such as, editing, publishing and distribution of their work, to produce and publish it in the Creole language;

(d) provide, active support to the teaching and learning of Seychellois Creole language by initiating and contributing to research projects on specific issues pertaining to the language, in consultation and collaboration with the Ministry responsible for Education;

(e) make provisions for employees and employers, including foreign individuals for the learning of Seychellois Creole language, in collaboration with the Ministry responsible for Education;

(f) ensure the development of Seychellois Creole literature, through the preservation and diffusion of traditional and literary heritage leading to the enhancement of a modern literary culture;

(g) undertake research on Seychellois Creole language locally, and Creole languages in general internationally, in collaboration with other countries and Creolophone regions;

(h) establish a close and permanent contact with the institutions and organisations that display interest for research on Creole languages and cultures;

(i) develop the Seychelles Creole Academy as a centre for documentation on Creole languages and cultures, with emphasis on the Seychellois Creole language and culture, by the setting up of a database, including electronic database, to allow and provide for virtual and on site consultation;

(j) provide support and encourage Seychellois and foreign researchers to undertake research projects on issues pertaining to Creole;

(k) disseminate results of researches on Creole through seminars, meetings, publications television programmes and films;

Summary of the Structure of the Seychelles Creole Academy

The revised structure for the Seychelles Creole Academy is aimed at ensuring effective implementation of the prescribed objectives stipulated in Chapter 2 of the legal document which governs the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and Arts’ (SNICHA). It is anticipated that with the new reform in the cultural sector a competent efficient and resourceful workforce will be supported, empowered and rewarded in order to deliver up to the required standard, to better respond to the clients’ needs and to overcome the challenges related to Covid-19.

Administration Unit

The Administration Unit provides general services to all sections, including the procurement and installation of furniture and equipment, inventory management of office supplies and stationery, disposal of unserviceable items within the required rules, management of mail delivery, chauffeur and messenger’s services for the institution, as well as the provision of protocol services for the visiting dignitaries. To organise the personnel and resources efficiently so as to direct activities toward common goals and objectives.

prompt and efficient service in the processing of salaries, the payment of the institution’s bills, monitoring all accounts as well as preparing periodic reports of the status of these accounts. The functions include:

a) Preparing of financial reports and liaising with the Ministry of Finance on the disbursement of funds;
b) Liaising with the Heads of Sections on drawing up of budgets, strategic plans and disbursement of funds based on programs and activities as contained in the strategic plan;
c) Participating in budgeting drawing up activities and evaluating the costs of planned activities;
d) Participating in budget execution and ensuring regular follow up of budget execution;
e) Analyzing budget discrepancy and gaps;
f) Compiling and updating statistics relating to payment operations.

Functions of the Language Development, Literature & Tradition Section

This Section comprises of four different units namely: The Translation Unit, The Language Development Unit, The Literature Unit and The Multimedia Unit which has two separate components; the Documentation Centre and the Graphic Design Unit.

Language Development Unit

The Language Development Section is firstly responsible to develop, regulate, monitor and maintain linguistic, scientific, technological, and pedagogical tools and programmes to ensure effective implementation of the normalized Seychellois Creole Language at both national and international levels.

National Creole Language Committee

The section is the secretariat to the National Creole Language Committee which is governed by the Academy, to make decisions and recommendations regarding all linguistic issues related to Seychellois Creole. Providing advice on policies for the popularization of the use and benefits of Seychellois Creole language at official use. Communicating and sharing knowledge experience and expertise in Seychellois creole language related topics.

Objectives

To undertake, compile and submit research project for publication.
To develop administrative, specialized or technical Seychellois terminology in the language for use by officers of the state, in areas covered in the public communications of the various state agencies.
To run training programmes for public officers in relation to the development, promotion and preservation of the Creole Language and Culture.
To monitor the level of performance by public agencies in the area of the provision of services in a manner which does not discriminate on the ground of language.
To provide public education on the issue of language discrimination in Seychelles.
To monitor state agencies with respect to the non-discriminatory provision of services in the three national languages in general use, i.e., English, French and Creole
Advise on language practice issues and coordinate the Language Policy implementation process across the entire institution.
To read, edit and where applicable, translate documents for submission to the Director of the Language Development, Literature & Tradition / Executive Director Officer for approval.

Literature and Traditions Unit

This Unit is responsible for developing research-based activities and literary programmes that will promote and safeguard Seychellois Creole literature and its oral traditions. Is also responsible for developing programmes and activities that will facilitate creations in Seychellois Creole literature, ensuring that a modern literary culture is developed in Seychelles that encompasses both modern literature and our oral traditions as an important source of cultural inspiration.

It will also work closely with Seychellois writers who write in Seychellois Creole Language and other artists of all ages and both genders by providing them with technical, financial and literary supports. It will also promote their works at all levels.

Objectives

To organize writing and literary competitions
Recognizing outstanding achievements in literary works by providing meaningful incentives to those engaged in the promotion and development of literary and cultural productivity and preserve our traditions.
To draw up agreements with writers regarding the purchase and publication of literary work.
To negotiate with printing companies on the publication of works together with the promotion and marketing unit.
To submit work to language unit for editing then to Graphic Design Unit for designing, page set up.
To proof read and submit final corrected versions of manuscripts for printing.
To arrange for publicity of works and writers together with the Promotion and Marketing Unit.
To organize workshops on Creole literature.
To conducting research on Seychellois oral traditions and literature

The Translation Unit

Language is much more than the communication of words. It is also an expression of culture, society, and belief. Promoting a universal language, therefore, would likely lead to a loss of the culture and heritage communicated through native languages. Thus, it is absolutely necessary for effective and empathetic communication between different cultures.

Translation is closely interwoven with sociolinguistics, contrastive linguistics, with concepts of thinking and cognitive aspects. It is critical for social harmony and peace and the medium for the spread of information, knowledge, and ideas. So, the Unit of Translation offers different types of translation services; technical, literary, administrative and professional in the Seychellois Creole Language to both public and private sectors, ensuring that documents are translated into standard Seychellois Creole. The Unit is also responsible for translating all documents as well as major works from the world literary heritage sent to the institute by public or private bodies or individuals as per the regulations set by the institute. This will be an opportunity for us to speak to a global audience, increase our readership, work on global issues and collaborate nationally and internationally.

Objectives

To provide and create accurate, error-free, precise and correct translations of highly technical documents from English or French to Seychellois Creole and vice versa, in order to support the institution’s marketing operations in Seychelles.
To help in translating daily correspondences and publications speedily and correctly from French or English to Creole, and vice versa.
To come with high written and oral proficiency in Seychellois Creole and the other two National Languages and as well as in conducting consecutive and simultaneous interpretation.
To bridge cultural and language barriers in all settings, thereby helping to protect educational, linguistic and cultural rights of all citizens.
To produce quality translations in a range of registers and fields, and able to adapt effectively to rapid changes in the field generated by the significant increase in economic, social and cultural exchanges between Seychelles and other countries.

Graphic Design Unit

Graphic design is a language, almost like other languages. Design is a way to create a powerful impression of our institution. It is the medium or vehicle to communicate a message. It optimizes the marketing efforts across all channels and is key to building a professional brand or identity, a way to allow our customers and clients quickly get familiar with what our institution has to offer.

Multimedia can be viewed as a learning tool and a means of communication. Most of the definitions agree on the characteristic that multimedia contains texts, graphics, animations, video and sound in an integrated way and the content can be structured and presented differently. Within learning situations, multimedia products and online services can be used creatively and reflectively.

The Graphic Design Unit develops and designs multimedia resources and products for publication purposes. Thus, the unit is responsible to design, create, test, review own work, and develop their own multimedia and products for a purpose and an understanding of the importance of presenting appropriately to a client.

Objectives

To design a multimedia product to meet a given specification and clients’ needs
To carry out illustrations for all publications (literary, pedagogical and promotional) as well as for posters and brochures
To introduce to a range of planning documents and to review various examples of design documents and practice their creation as exercises such as: storyboards (showing the layout of pages with detail on content, formats and styles), mind map (showing initial idea planning), mood board (a page showing possible colour, image, style options that could be used).
To study manuscripts for the designing of illustrations, book covers etc…
To assist with the layout for publications of the Institute.

Documentation Centre

The documentation center provides research facilities and digital library services for both local and international researchers and the general public. The purpose is to serve the society through the records of human thoughts, ideas and expressions by making them available to all. The Documentation Unit will be responsible to documenting Seychellois Traditional Culture, Linguistic and Literary heritage done by society and the government of Seychelles becomes a reference library to enrich the cultural library as public information. It will manage the inventory and documentation, preservation and management of cultural assets, as well as the development of traditional cultural assets, with the purpose to maintain and preserve traditional cultural assets.

Objectives

To make necessary contacts to obtain all works in linguistic, Creole languages, literature and culture on a national, regional and international basis.
Collect resources in order to promote an enlightened citizenship and to enrich personal life;
Collect and provide books as well as other non-book materials to help the people to become aware of the thinking of others and to think and act independently.
To provide research facilities for all researchers in Creole languages, more specifically, Seychellois Creole. This includes physical as well as electronic and other facilities.
To maintain the Creole Institute reference collection.
To promote the Seychellois products and services and preserve Seychellois literary heritage.
Foster and promote the spread of knowledge, education and culture;
Provide facility for formal and informal life-long self-education in the community;
Preserve the literary and cultural heritage of humanity for posterity as vehicles of culture and material for research;
Provide reliable information for all kinds of users irrespective of age, caste, creed, colour, religion, sex, etc.;
Facilitate advancement of culture in the community.

Education Public Outreach and Training Unit

Civic responsibility domain

An outreach program provides opportunities to build a partnership between the institution and the community thus strengthening the social contract between the profession and the society. Working in outreach settings develop the cultural competencies when interacting and communicating with the individuals of the community, appreciation of their issues, and public education efforts toward reducing disparities in these underserved communities. .

The Education Outreach and Training Unit has just been set up in the New Seychelles Creole Academy. An important feature is to provide training and workshops in the mother tongue; the Seychellois Creole Language at Certificate level. The possibility to use different forms of teaching and learning; e-learning platform to train, face-to-face, conferencing…for interested adult learners or individual. They can take several forms, such as school presentations, workshops, public talks and lab visits, etc, to develop learning and applying knowledge to community services, a sense of responsibility toward the unreached communities, reflection and feedback on the experience to improve and sustain.

Program Benefits

Promotes safety culture through peer training.
Training is intended to be participatory, using hands-on activities.
Trainers are able to tailor the training topics based on specific needs of their audience.
Outreach training content will be delivered in Creole.

Objectives

Increase general awareness of the use and benefits of the Seychellois Creole Language and its issues at official level.
Provide education and information to all government ministries, agencies, organisations and private sectors to support implementation of the mother tongue, inclusion and information policies.
Inform residents and local officials of the latest research findings and recommendations related to Creole Language use and promotion.
Foster a sense of identity and pride in our Seychellois Culture and Language.
Provide residents with practical suggestions for their own guidance.
Assist with on- and off-site education programs
Share Center stories and information with supporters and the general public, including written updates about current stories about benefits of the usage of Creole Language
Design and create display boards, kiosks, and other educational online education programs
Assist with improving existing education programs and related activities.