UP CLOSE with … Jeanette Larue, head of Environment & Education Division in the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change |06 December 2016
‘I love what I do, and I do what I love’
By Marylene Julie
“Most people know me as an environment activist. Some are not happy when I would rage on social media on environment issues. But when it comes to defending Mother Nature I would not give a damn about what others think; I will continue to do it, even if it costs me my job or my life.
“Our children are thirsty and in need of nature education, let’s give them the opportunity to learn in, about and for the environment. My dream is to see residential environment education centres, where groups of children and their families can come to spend great time together, but at the same time learn about their environment and why they need to respect and protect it. We have been given one of the most beautiful natural environments, if we don’t provide our children with knowledge and time to enjoy it, don’t blame them for mistreating it in future. I’m not referring only to educators but to parents equally.”
“I have always said that the day I say my last good bye to this world, I would like half of my ashes to be laid in the lagoon of Aldabra, my favourite place on this planet, so that I can always be among the sharks, turtles, and other marine species that I love so much.”
These are just some of the inspiring comments of Jeanette Larue on the environment, something she is so passionate about and would give her life to protect.
Jeanette is currently head of the Environment & Education Division in the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change. She was born on September 22, 1968 and grew up at Machabée, Glacis, where she spent all her primary and secondary school years, before going for two years at the National Youth Service (NYS). She is the second from a family of four girls but has a brother from her father’s side. Her father passed away when she was 13 years old. As her mother is the only child of her grandparents, she grew up with her grandparent. She says her grandmother helped to shape her into who she is today.
After completing her A-Levels, she did two years at Sussex University, where she did her BA in Education.
“Those two years were very crucial for it influenced my specialisation career today. When in my second year, I did a compulsory module in Environment Education and with Media studies as a subsidiary subject during my first year. It makes a great combination in helping me to promote Environment Education upon my return. As soon as I started my career as a language teacher at Plaisance secondary school in 1993, I did my utmost to integrate environment issues both in my formal teaching but also in as many extracurricular activities. There were one or two teachers who were not comfortable with the new teaching approach, where I will take students out, but the children love it, especially the low ability ones. At that time, I concentrated mainly on nature conservation and one year later, in 1994, I started my own wildlife club called Colibri Wildlife Club. My days with the members of the Colibri Wildlife Club is still the best of my whole career. I had a team of devoted and committed eco-daughters and eco-sons and with the support of one of the best head teachers I have ever worked with, Dora Ernesta, the club achieved so much during the eight years I spent with them. We spent great times out in the fields and also had the support of parents. If I could turn back the clock, this is a period of my career which I would love to relive – the days I spent at Plaisance secondary school. It was one of the best schools in those days, with a supportive management team, hardworking teachers and great students,” says Jeanette.
Jeanette says her work does not provide her with a lot of free time to go out with friends, though she does try to spend time with relatives from time to time.
Sharing outdoor time
But Jeanette also tries to share some of her outdoor time with other students who were not in her club or class. Come the holidays, she says, her diary was full of picnics and hikes with other classes, some which she didn’t teach. But she enjoys being out in nature with children, she loves seeing the excitement in their eyes and expression of appreciation on their faces when they discover new things in the environment.
To Jeanette, getting to know students outside of the four walls of a classroom is also important.
“I believe that no child is born bad/naughty, it’s the environment around them that influences their behaviour. I remember when I was teaching, almost every year I had one student with behaviour problem which was under my responsibility and getting to know them and trying to get them to appreciate and value themselves and those around them make you realise how much attention many of those children need,” says Jeanette while being appreciative and thankful for the support given by her then head teacher, Dora Ernesta, whom she described as a woman of principles.
In 2000, Jeanette was promoted as the Coordinator for Environment Education in the Department of Education where she spent 10 years. She is happy that her current position still offers her the opportunity to work with children, especially in the outdoor classrooms.
“I still meet many of my past students almost everywhere I go. Some, especially those who were in my club or active in environment activities, will visit me from time to time. These ones are my eco-warriors. We keep in touch on social media or meet in social activities such as picnics, and even if they are all grown up now, and have a family of their own, when we do meet they still show the same respect. As someone who is strongly against smoking and drinking alcohol, I also try to promote such education to the children. Every child is born with a positive skill, it is us to try and help them discover those skills and nurture it. One thing that I always tell teachers or people I work with, when we are organising events, such as ceremonies, let the children be MCs, give them the opportunity to come in front to express themselves, be it in a PowerPoint presentation, poem, song, short play, group leader etc, it helps build up their confidence and boost their self-esteem,” says Jeanette.
Childhood days
Jeanette believes it’s the past who makes you who are today.
“I grew up with both my grandparents and mother. At that time, there was no television, electronic gadgets, etc. I spent most of my time outdoors. I think I went to swim almost everyday as I lived so close to the beach. When I was in primary two, I was already a good swimmer. After school, walking from Glacis to Machabée, the first thing when I got home was do my homework, because it was hard to read and write by candlelight as we had no electricity when I was in primary school. I also enjoyed climbing trees and rocks, playing in the river which runs close to our house and on Saturdays explore the forest. I loved adventures. You would find me indoors only when going to bed. But my grandmother also taught me many craft skills, embroidery like cross-stitch, crochets and doing straw hats and bags. I love doing craft, and I still do some at times, but have very little time for myself. During the holidays I enjoyed fishing, gardening and spending time on the small beach close to my home. I so much loved those days and today I count myself lucky that I had such a childhood,” she reminisces.
Jeanette also looked forward to Christmas in those days, not because of a doll that she would get as a gift, but because of the decorations which they had to prepare two or three months in advance.
“We recycled so much to make garlands and other simple decorations. My childhood also thought me that I have to work hard to earn what I want,” she says.
My son is my world
Jeanette believes that her son, now 16 years old, has also inherited a lot from her, such as her love for animals and nature.
“Since he was very small, around four years old, he would accompany me on my camping trips or other environment education activities. He loves going on islands, boat trips, swimming, and would easily make friends at any event he goes to,” says Jeanette.
“My son is my world, he means everything to me and he knows that, even if he also considers me as a strict mother with so many rules. But I think he knows why I am like that. However, some see me as not only strict but also over protective as mother. But I have my reasons because what I went through a few hours after he was born changed my life completely. I swore that I will never have children again.
“About seven hours after birth, he started bleeding, non-stop, everywhere, mouth, urine, stool, and he had to be rushed to the ICU where he stayed for 3 days while he kept on bleeding. I was told his chance of survival was very dim. I had to watch him in an incubator, could not touch him, praying for his life. It was tough, really tough, with me always being in tears when I talk about it. I remember on the third day, we (me and my partner) had to go through some counselling. We were told that if he survived, we will need to be very watchful over him, as the doctor was predicting hemophilia. It was only on the fourth day that I got to hold him close. I was given a form which I remember carrying it in my bag everywhere I go, in case anything happens to him and if I have to take him to the doctor, I will need to show the form. On it, it clearly marked hemophilia. But there was one young doctor who told me he was sure it wasn’t the case. But thank God, until now, my son has never had any similar bleeding problems,” she says, adding no matter how old he is, she needs to be reassured that it would not happen again.
But Jeanette finds solace among her eco-warriors as they are like daughters and sons to her.
But luckily she has the staunch support of her partner, whom she has lived with for over 18 years. She says he has been the best father she has ever known. Even if they have their ups and downs like many other couples, she would not change him for another.
Hobbies
During her spare time Jeanette does gardening or craft. She believes if she was not an educator she would have been an interior decorator because she loves doing that too.
“On the weekends I am not working, I do decorations for parties or weddings. When it comes to weddings, I would very often change the bride and groom’s proposition of balloons, to flowers, woods, shells, things that are found in nature. Most do change and like the new natural ideas. I enjoy peaceful areas, no large crowds and no partying, and think my son also inherited that. When it comes to music, Michael Bolton and Elton John are top of my list. Bee Gees and UB40 are my favorite groups. Leo Rajos, a native American is surely my favourite instrumental performer. My local artists are surely Joe Samy and Patrick Victor, but I also appreciate some young artists such as Chicco Martino, Reggi, Ion Kid and Tania,” she says.
Passion for the environment
As she is an environment activist, Jeanette says when it comes to defending Mother Nature she would not give a damn about what others think, she will continue to do it. But she is also very patriotic.
“I am also a patriot, I love my country so much and will identify my native land with pride. When I am on overseas mission or on overseas holidays, I look forward to letting people know where I come from. Seychelles always comes first and I am proud to be a Seychellois. I also love island life. I have had the opportunity to visit many island states, from Indian Ocean, Caribbean and the Pacific though I do have a preference for the Pacific ones, like Samoa and Fiji. When I do travel, especially on overseas mission, if there is only a free day, visiting a nature reserve or safari will be a priority instead of a shopping mall. I love wildlife safaris, waterfalls and aquariums.”
“I would overall describe myself as ‘I love what I do, and I do what I love’. Transmitting such love for nature to the younger generation is the greatest gift given to me by God. I think we were all sent to this world for a reason, and mine was to help save His creations. My dream is to see residential environment education centres, where groups of children and their families can come to spend great time together, but at the same time learn about their environment and why they need to respect and protect it,” she says.
Jeanette travels a lot in her work, mainly to attend training or to share experiences and knowledge to others. She says it is sad to see many enthusiastic environment educators with great plans, but unfortunately cannot get it implemented in their own country, simply because of no political will or environment education is not seen as a priority. Though she feels there is so much for us to do in regard to education for sustainable development, yet she says we are ahead of so many countries, even ahead of many who claim to have so many experts in that field, and have the financial means and human resource to do it. In the end, Jeanette says, it all lies in the political will of that particular country.
As for volunteerism which she says is sadly dying a slow death, she tries her best to instill the importance of voluntary work in children as she was born in an era of volunteerism.
“As a volunteer I now sit on the board of wildlife club of Seychelles and I am the chairperson of Friends of Vallée de Mai (VDM) club which I started in 2009 when I was still a board member of the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF),” says Jeanette.
“When I retire I think I will continue with voluntary work in environment education for as much as my health permits,” she says, adding she hopes to also be able to visit other Pacific Islands, going back to Samoa, Kiribati, Bora Bora, Tuvalu, etc.
“Both the Vallée de Mai and Aldrabra hold an important place in my heart and I will always fight for their protection. I have always said that the day I say my last good bye to this world, I would like half of my ashes to lay in the lagoon of Aldabra, my favourite place on this planet, so that I can always be among the sharks, turtles, and other marine species that I love so much,” concludes Jeanette.
