Anchored in its mission to create sustainable value for territories and communities, Agrïa invests in projects that strengthen the social fabric and open up new perspectives for future generations.
Launched in 2024, Bouze Zenes is a concrete example of this commitment: a program aimed at young people aged 13 to 24 from Bel Ombre and neighboring regions—including Baie du Cap, Saint-Martin, Rivière des Galets, and Choisy—to develop their skills, confidence, and opportunities for the future.
This pioneering social initiative, carried out in collaboration with Heritage Villas Valriche , ER Hospitality and the ER Group Foundation (of which Agrïa is a subsidiary), reflects the desire to promote inclusive and sustainable development, by addressing key themes such as personal development, sport and employability.
“Bouze Zenes, a collaborative effort to inspire the next generation”
Bouze Zenes’ success is based on collaboration and its holistic approach. For the first edition, which concluded in November 2024, Agrïa joined forces with ER Hospitality and NGOs such as Lovebridge, PILS, DRIP, Active Mauritius, and JA Mascareignes to design a program focused on youth development. The initiative is structured around three key areas:
1. Personal Development
More than 100 young people have grown both personally and socially through dynamic workshops tailored to a variety of interests and needs. Awareness sessions led by PILS and DRIP have opened a space for dialogue around sexual health, emotional well-being, and addiction prevention. Other highlights of their journey include educational visits to sites such as Odysseo, the Seven Colored Earths Geological Park in Chamarel, La Vanille Nature Park, the World of Seashells, and the Heritage Marine Education Centre, among others.
2. Sports
Participants were introduced to new sports, including stand-up paddleboarding, and took part in regular physical activities aimed at promoting physical well-being, while having the opportunity to discover different regions through these activities.
3. Employability
The program enabled participants to develop key skills such as job searching and applying, interview preparation, entrepreneurship basics and personal financial management, in order to improve their career prospects.
Presentation of certificates to young people from the Bouze Zenes program
A first certificate award ceremony
The Bouze Zenes program concluded its first edition with a certificate award ceremony on November 29, 2024 at La Place du Moulin. Around 100 young people celebrated the success of their journey and received a certificate recognizing their commitment and progress.
“I have participated in the Bouze Zenes program since April 2024, I have learned a lot, discovered new things and met new people. I encourage young people to join this program as soon as they can,” says Gregory Pénélope, one of the Bouze Zenes participants.
“We started with a small group of around fifty young people. Over the months, as the project grew, our sessions, conducted in collaboration with various NGOs and partners, attracted an increasing number of participants. The first graduation ceremony symbolizes the success and positive impact of these young people. It’s a privilege to have supported them from the start,” explains Priscille Noël, Head of Social Impact within the ER Group.
Anticipating continued interest from young people and their families, Bouze Zenes will continue in 2025 with the support of Agrïa and local partners. New activities, such as boxing, football, and artistic and musical workshops, will enrich the program.
Stay tuned for more updates on Bouze Zenes. To learn more and join this growing community, visit the Bouze Zenes Facebook page .
