Deba Klima: An enriching Eco-trip for the winners in Rodrigues

The DebaKlima Season 2 winners travelled to Rodrigues from 28 July  to 1 August. Matthew Laurette, Douglas Gerval, and Loïc Edouard of St Joseph’s College and their teacher, Anaïs Karghoo, won an eco-discovery trip, offered by the MCB Group. They stood out during the debates broadcast on MBC 2 and MBC Sat throughout the month of June and won the finals on the evening of Saturday, 6 July against Notre Dame College. The winning team had the chance to explore the wonders and landscapes of Rodrigues, accompanied by MCB and Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre representatives.

Challenged at many levels

The three winners were challenged differently by what they saw and experienced in Rodrigues. For Loïc Edouard, “this four-day visit to Rodrigues is a reconnection with nature.” He was also, “Amazed by the way of life, simplicity, and calm of the people”. The teenager says that this stay also allowed him to “get out of my comfort zone, leaving behind the modern life of Mauritius.”

Water is precious to Rodrigues, and Matthew Laurette is well aware of this: “I am concerned about the water shortage in Rodrigues, and here I was touched by the red bean farmer who is heavily impacted by the drought.”

This adventure was an opportunity for Douglas Gerval to dream big: “This discovery inspired me to continue my fight for the preservation of our environment, and to make my voice heard. I started again with my dream of becoming a politician, perhaps one day.”

Discovering the must-see sites 

Rodrigues' ecological journey began with a visit to one of its greatest treasures, the red beans plantation in Baie Topaze. Students were able to participate in the harvest of this essential dry grain from the island’s cuisine. The turtles of the François Leguat reserve and the specific features of these also marked the first day of the ecological trip. Through a guided tour, DebaKlima’s Season 2 grand winners discovered hundreds of giant turtles, tropical birds, and several native trees while exploring the limestone formations that make up the impressive Grande Caverne. 

Rodrigues Friendly or the participatory discovery

The students have not only been involved in eco-tourism but also participated in activities thanks to Rodrigues Friendly, which organized a cultural excursion on the theme of the Universe. This immersive experience allows the ‘’traveller’’ to be an actor of his discovery day. During the exploration, the winners boarded a ship in the fishing village of Rivière Coco, and participated in the preparation of products based on "tent Vacoas" and the famous ‘’tourte’’, in the wake of traditional local musical instruments.       

From planting corals to preserving endemic plants

The divers and educators of the NGO Shoals Rodrigues, which has been campaigning for several years to save marine biodiversity, have taken the young visitors on board in their world. Through a guided tour of the sea, in a glass bottom, young teenagers were able to discover the aquarium and the plantation of corals at Rivière Banane. The technicians and engineers of the wind and solar farm of the CEB in Grenade, have opened their doors to visitors. The latter have closed their stay in Rodrigues at Grande Montagne Nature Reserve, managed by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation. The teenagers also had the opportunity to put plants underground, symbolically marking their visit to the land of this paradise island.