The La Colombe Mailbox: An Initiative to Help Children in Distress

A new initiative aimed at providing children with a safe and confidential way to seek help was launched on Monday, December 1, 2025, at the Sir Harilall Vaghjee Memorial Hall in Port-Louis by the Minister of Education and Human Resources, Dr. Mahend Gungapersad, and the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms. Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra, in the presence of delegated ministers as well as members of Parliament and the parliamentary caucus on gender equality.

The project, titled La Colombe, involves installing specially designed mailboxes in schools across the country, where children in difficulty or distress can express their experiences in writing. These letters will be read confidentially by responsible adults who possess the ethical values necessary to provide appropriate support to children. The overall goal is to protect children and promote a culture of peace, empathy, and protection within Mauritian society.

The La Colombe initiative is part of the activities marking the national campaign "16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence," which began on November 26, 2025. Organized by the National Assembly and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Office in Mauritius and Seychelles, this campaign aims to raise public awareness about preventing all forms of violence in Mauritius, with particular attention to gender-based violence.

In his speech, the Minister of Education emphasized the symbolism of the dove as an emblem of peace and love, stressing the urgency of breaking the cycle of violence and protecting the most vulnerable. He praised the mailbox initiative as a means for children to "put their suffering in a box" and receive help from trustworthy adults.

Additionally, Dr. Mahend Gungapersad highlighted the harmful discourse present in some families that, according to him, leads to bullying and harassment originating at home and spreading throughout society. He lamented that instead of teaching children love, empathy, and understanding, these behaviors lead people to be humiliated because of their physical appearance or socio-economic background. He called for a renewed emphasis on compassion and positive values.

Highlighting that education is not just about diplomas but should focus on humanism, the minister added that a new education plan would be launched at the beginning of next year. This plan would emphasize not only academic results but also the well-being of children, their emotional development, and teaching fundamental values. According to him, such an approach could help reduce crime and improve public health.

For her part, the Speaker of the National Assembly focused on the issue of intergenerational violence. She recalled that studies have shown that 20% of boys replicate the violent behavior they witness when their father beats their mother, while a similar proportion of girls come to accept violence as normal. "Hands are not made for hitting, and love has nothing to do with violence," she stated. Ms. Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra also emphasized the importance of the La Colombe mailbox, which provides victims with a discreet way to express their suffering. She drew a parallel with the French initiative Papillon, where similar mailboxes have helped detect cases of sexual abuse and other forms of violence against children, leading to the prosecution of perpetrators.