Comparison of ICCCM and AGCCCI proposals

Comparing the ICCCM and AGCCCI proposal with what the Mauritian government is doing reveals some similarities, but also key differences in approach, particularly in terms of focus, scale, and involvement of the community. Here’s a breakdown of the comparison:

1. Education and Skills Development

• ICCCM/AGCCCI Proposal:
  • Focuses on establishing Community Learning Centres that offer tutoring, vocational, and technical training, specifically in rural areas where dropout rates are high. Emphasis is on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education and job-market-ready skills.
  • Proposes partnerships with local universities and businesses to provide scholarships for Creole students, with the goal of reducing educational inequality.
• Mauritian Government:
  • The government has implemented free education from primary to tertiary levels, with technical and vocational education being offered through the Mauritius Institute of Training and Development (MITD). However, the reach and effectiveness of these programs in rural Creole communities have been questioned, particularly due to dropout rates and lack of access to quality facilities.
  • The government’s STEM initiatives are part of broader educational reform plans but often do not target Creole communities specifically. While scholarships and support for education exist, they tend to be more general and not tailored to the specific challenges faced by the Creole community.

2. Housing and Living Conditions

• ICCCM/AGCCCI Proposal:
  • Aims to address the housing crisis in Creole communities by partnering with NGOs and government agencies to provide affordable housing and improve infrastructure like clean water and sanitation. It sets a goal to reduce substandard housing by 10% in five years.
• Mauritian Government:
  • The government has been involved in low-income housing projects through the National Housing Development Company (NHDC) and other schemes aimed at providing affordable housing to vulnerable populations, including Creoles. However, there are ongoing issues with delays, inadequate infrastructure, and the quality of the housing provided.
  • Infrastructure projects to improve water and sanitation are ongoing but have been criticized for being slow and not always reaching rural areas, where Creole communities are often located.

3. Healthcare Services

• ICCCM/AGCCCI Proposal:
  • Suggests establishing Community Health Clinics focused on preventive care, addiction recovery, and mental health services, especially in underserved rural areas. They also propose mobile health units to provide care in hard-to-reach locations.
• Mauritian Government:
  • Mauritius has a public healthcare system that offers free healthcare services to its citizens, including rural Creole communities. However, access to specialised care, mental health services, and addiction recovery programs is limited, particularly in rural regions.
  • Mobile clinics are occasionally used in rural outreach programs, but these are not comprehensive or consistently available.

4. Economic Empowerment and Job Creation

• ICCCM/AGCCCI Proposal:
  • Plans to establish an Entrepreneurship Incubation Program for Creole communities, offering business training, micro-financing, and market access. The aim is to support the growth of small businesses, particularly in agriculture, fishing, and tourism.
  • Also focuses on strategic partnerships with industries to boost employment, with the goal of increasing employment in rural Creole areas by 15% by 2028.
• Mauritian Government:
  • The government has launched several entrepreneurship initiatives, such as the SME Development Scheme and the Economic Empowerment Program, to promote business growth and job creation. However, these programs often lack the targeted support that the ICCCM/AGCCCI proposal seeks to offer for marginalised Creole communities.
  • The Focus on agriculture and tourism sectors is part of the national development strategy, but government efforts often do not prioritise or specifically target employment opportunities in rural Creole communities, where economic inequality is most pronounced.

5. Leadership Development and Youth Mentorship

• ICCCM/AGCCCI Proposal:
  • Emphasises youth mentorship and leadership development through church and community leaders, focusing on life skills, moral guidance, and Christian values. The aim is to raise a generation of responsible and morally grounded leaders within the Creole community.
• Mauritian Government:
  • The government supports youth empowerment through various programs under the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports, and Recreation, which includes leadership training and civic engagement. However, these programs tend to be more general in nature and do not always engage the religious or moral aspects that are central to the ICCCM/AGCCCI proposal.

6. Rehabilitation and Social Reintegration

• ICCCM/AGCCCI Proposal:
  • Focuses on rehabilitation centres offering comprehensive addiction treatment and job placement for recovering addicts and ex-convicts. The aim is to break the cycle of crime and reintegrate individuals into society through vocational training and stable employment.
• Mauritian Government:
  • The government has launched various anti-drug campaigns and rehabilitation programs, such as those run by the National Rehabilitation Centre. However, the scope of these programs is often limited, and there is a lack of comprehensive rehabilitation and reintegration support specifically for Creole communities.

7. Advocacy and Policy Change

• ICCCM/AGCCCI Proposal:
  • Proposes an advocacy component to influence government policies on education, employment, and social services, specifically targeting the needs of marginalised communities like the Creoles. It also includes public awareness campaigns to reduce stigma and promote inclusivity.
• Mauritian Government:
  • The government has implemented social inclusion policies and affirmative action programs, particularly through the Ministry of Social Integration. However, many critics argue that these policies have not sufficiently addressed the root causes of marginalisation in the Creole community and that more targeted, sustained efforts are needed.

Key Differences:

1. Faith-based Approach: The ICCCM/AGCCCI proposal is deeply rooted in Christian values and involves the Church as a central actor in solving socio-economic problems. The government, by contrast, operates in a secular capacity without religious involvement in its social programs.
2. Targeted Focus on Creole Community: While the government’s programs aim to address general poverty and social exclusion, they are not specifically tailored to the Creole community. The ICCCM/AGCCCI proposal is highly focused on addressing the specific needs of the Creole community, from education to leadership development.
3. Long-term, Holistic Vision: The ICCCM/AGCCCI proposal offers a more holistic and long-term approach, combining education, housing, healthcare, job creation, and moral guidance with a specific focus on the Creole community. The government tends to implement more segmented programs, which, while effective in certain areas, do not always provide the integrated support necessary for systemic change.
4. Private and NGO Partnerships: The ICCCM/AGCCCI proposal heavily involves NGOs, churches, and private businesses to achieve its goals, whereas government programs tend to rely more on public funding and government-run initiatives.