The government of Seychelles has begun consultations with key stakeholders to advance the nomination of Venns Town, also known as the Mission Ruins, as a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site
Located in the southwest of the Morne Seychellois National Park, Venns Town holds deep historical and cultural significance. The site once hosted a missionary school established in the 19th century to educate children of liberated African slaves who arrived in Seychelles after 1861.
For the past decade, the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts has been preparing the nomination dossier. The recent meeting with stakeholders aimed to share updates, clarify roles, and set a clear timeline to meet the World Heritage Committee’s submission requirements.
Cecile Kalebi, Permanent Secretary at the Institute, said that the preparation of the dossier is now at an advanced stage. She noted that Seychelles is receiving both technical and financial assistance from the government and international partners, including the World Heritage Fund and the African World Heritage Fund.
“The successful nomination of Venns Town must be a collective national effort—not only by the government but also by the private sector,” Kalebi emphasized.
Julienne Barra, Director General for Culture at the Institute, highlighted the significance of the project, noting that if approved, Venns Town would become Seychelles’ first Cultural World Heritage Site.
“Achieving this recognition would bring tangible benefits, particularly through increased tourism and global recognition of Seychelles’ cultural heritage,” Barra said.
The first submission of the dossier to the World Heritage Committee is scheduled for January 2026.