The main purpose of the Competitions is to:
- promote the concept of active ageing;
- encourage Members of the various Associations to develop their talent and team spirit in the cultural field;
- provide an appropriate platform to our senior citizens to showcase their performances and skills.
In line with the above, competitions in Drama, Quiz, Dance and Song were organised by the Council.
Quiz
A Quiz Competition, in the context of the National Day Celebrations, was organised district-wise and ultimately at national level on 28 March 2019 at the James Burty David Recreation Centre, Pointe aux Sables, followed by a Prize Giving Ceremony to the winners.
Questions were based on the History of Mauritius since its Independence in 1968 up to date.
Essay Competition
As regards to the 2019 Essay Competition, some 150 students from 9 Secondary Schools took part in the competition based on The Contribution of the Elderly in the Development of Mauritius – a Gender Perspective on 20 March 2019. A Prize Giving Ceremony was organised on 11 May 2019 at the James Burty David Recreation Centre to compensate the best students at participating school as well as the students who scored the highest marks for the 3 best Essays at national level. All participating students obtained a Certificate of Participation as well as a souvenir gift as a measure of encouragement. Shields were offered to the Rectors of the Secondary Schools.
Drama
As regards to the Drama Competition in 2019, the preliminaries were held on 23, 24 and 25 April in Bhojpuri and Creole respectively followed by the finals on 15 May 2019 at the Serge Constantin Theatre in the presence of some 350 guests including artists.
All finalists were offered medals and certificates of participation, whereas cash prizes and shields were presented to the winners in both categories.
Song and Dance Competitions
The finals of the Song in English and French and Hindustani was organised for the Members of Senior Citizens Associations affiliated to the Council on 23 September 2019 at the Salle des Fêtes Plaza, Rose Hill whereas the Hindustani participants were convened on 26 September 2019 at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture.
The Dance Competition attracted as usual a high number of participants in both Bhojpuri and Sega and the finals were held simultaneously with the Song Competition on 23 and 25 September respectively at the venues mentioned above.
The first-prize winners were invited to perform at the Swami Vivekananda International Conference Centre on the lst of October, 2019 in the context of the International Day for Older Persons.