POTPOURRI March 2015

www.potpourrimagazine.com

Juggling Motherhood & Career

FASHION Classic pieces that will never go out of style

WALKING ON SUNSHINE Stephenie Dookley

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE A survivor’s story + telltale signs that it’s time to get out

PLUS:

A historical gem in Baie MARCH 2015 | POTPOURRI Lazare 1

POTPOURRI

March

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Special Feature Down Syndrome

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Pop Culture Influential Ms. Kardashian

39 Interview A Treasure Trove in Baie Lazare

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Seychellois Overseas Ex-Miss Seychelles, Jane Stravens

Parenting Juggling Motherhood & Career

The Team Chief Editor: (1) Marie-France Watson | M: + (248) 2512477 | E: marie-france@seychellespublications.com Marketing: (2) Ineke Camille | M: + (248) 2520937 | E: ineke@seychellespublications.com Editor: (3) Lynette Botha | E: lynette@seychellespublications.com Freelance Writing: (4) Mawess Wirtz, (5) Kurt Gilbert, (6) Hanifa Francoise Photography: (7) Suzanne Verlaque | POTPOURRI Photography Studio

La Plage

Graphics & Layout: (8) Olivia Michaud | W: www.angelcreativedesign.com

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Potpourri Seychelles is published by Paradise Promotions Ltd Box 1539, Room 105, Aarti Chambers, Mont-Fleuri, Seychelles Tel: + (248) 4325215 | Fax: + (248) 4325216 | www.potpourrimagazine.com Printed by: ATLAS Printing Press LLC.

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From the

EDITOR

Photo credit: Suzanne Verlaque

Dear Folks, This month, we are all once again reminded of the important role women play in the world we live in. Commemorative days to me are like refresher courses; there’s nothing new we learn but given that we are constantly growing as individuals, our take on the situation changes and there’s always a new angle we are able to explore. Personally, I have been thinking about this day since we celebrated it last year. I couldn’t help but feel that many of us took the opportunity to have a little dig at the opposite sex, which is perhaps justified since the day is there to remind men of how special we are, but is it really the opposite sex who needs to be reminded? I beg to differ. More and more, I get the sense that women in general do not appreciate other women. We are in some relentless search of what it is that ‘she’ is lacking and once we find it, well, we can feel like we’re on top of the world again. So, when exactly did women become women’s worst enemy?

The world we live in at the moment is complicated, fast and tiring. Our lives are exposed on facebook, instagram, twitter and magazines. Gone are the days when what kind of mother, partner, friend or colleague we are remained the business of only those they concerned. The world is now able to formulate an opinion on who we are and naturally that places us in a competitive place to be the best of everything. Since that is close to impossible, being best is now also based on who we perceive to be ‘less’ than us; a mother who has a social life, a partner who has let herself ‘go’ a little, a colleague who gets called into the boss’ office more frequently – the list goes on. The sad thing about this is that we fail to see that there’s no ‘just me’ bubble we can escape to and live in. We are all in whatever we are in together. When I walk into the office in the morning and all my colleagues are happy, we end up having a productive day which is good for the general morale and also good for business – a win-win situation

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as far as I see it. A colleagues’ unhappiness or anger does nothing good for anyone in the office. Why don’t we choose to see things in a collective manner? Allow me to use this metaphor as an example; we are all candles burning our own light in a room. When the candle next to you fades or is blown out, yes, your own light might shine brighter for a minute but what happens to the light in the entire room? It dims. So the next time you get the chance to share in someone’s happiness, go for it, don’t try to lessen it. The same applies for someone’s grim moment; don’t rejoice in it but rather extend your help or better still, your love. Your life and world would be better because of it.

Women’s Day aside, March is also the month when awareness on Down Syndrome is given some attention. We take a look at this condition and meet a couple of families who live it everyday. Down Syndrome to those of us who do not know is simply seen at face value. We recognise the condition based on someone’s physical appearance but we remain comfortably clueless as to what it entails to live with it or with someone inflicted by it. We hope the feature enlightens you a bit more as it did us.

Another important issue which we address in this issue is domestic violence, the silent ailment too many people, especially women and children live with. A survivor shares her story with us and along with it, gives us hope that there is no situation which can’t be improved or walked away from if necessary. Our aim was to identify signs in relationships which scream abuse but we are perhaps at the time too blind to see.

Again, we hope it helps those of you who find yourselves in this incredibly sad situation or those of you who know someone who is.

The end of March would mark the end of the first quarter of the year. It’s a good time to re-visit your 2015 resolutions; renew them, change them, discard them or be proud that you remain on the track you set out to follow for this year. It takes courage to grow and learn and to try to be better. We wish you plenty of it.

For those of you visiting our beautiful islands this month, may you have a memorable holiday and be blown away by the Seychellois hospitality.

Chief Editor

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Cover Model Stephenie Dookley

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1. Photographer: Marsha Dine 2. Concept & Make-Up: Joel Rose Clothes, bag & shoes: Model’s own Choker: Trendy Boutique Bracelet: KANKAN Location: Lazare Souvenir, Museum and Gallery

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MARCH 2015 | POTPOURRI

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Stephenie Dookley

FIT AND FABULOUS

By Lynette Botha / Photographs Marsha Dine Proof that no matter what life throws at you, you’re stronger than you think….

At 24, Stephenie is a single, working mom whose life has thrown her more than a few curveballs, but she’s not taking it lying down. Literally. Stephenie, who used to weigh 108kg and wear a size 18, now weighs 61kg and alters between a size six and eight, thanks to willpower, sensible eating and lots of training. As we all know, it’s not easy to “just lose weight” – especially not with a full-time job and a young child, but Stephenie was adamant about changing her life.

“I was so overweight for a very long time and I didn’t know how to change. It made me feel depressed and unhappy and I knew I had to do something to get my weight under control, not only for me, but for my son too.”

“The struggle is real, it never gets easier, but you get stronger.” This was one of the lines that Stephenie repeated many times during our interview. She meant it in relation to fitness and getting healthy, but it seems to allude to the rest of her life too.”

Once Stephenie had her mind set on getting into shape to lose all her excess weight, she did what most people do – look for a quick fix. She started taking diet pills to curb her appetite, but that solution was short-lived; the pills made her really sick and caused gastric problems so she had to stop. She then tried starving herself, and going hours without eating anything, but again this was not sustainable and left her weak, tired and even more depressed every time she failed. “I would get on the scale, see that my weight was the same, and cry and cry. It was depressing. It’s so difficult when you’re in that place and you don’t see a way out.” Eventually she realised the only way she was going to be able to get in shape was with a realistic goal, lots of exercise and a healthy eating plan. “Everyone is after instant results, I was too, but there is no secret, it’s all about hard work and discipline.” She says.

So, where did she start? “I signed up at the gym, got advice from the trainers there and committed to going every day. I did a bit of everything; aerobics, swimming, weight lifting and jogging. With my eating, I started to cut out carbs – bread, rice, pasta, as well as sugar and junk food. I started preparing healthier meals like salads and fish with vegetables. I also added a lot of protein to my diet.”

Changing your lifestyle so drastically is tough and often not sustainable, but no matter how hard it was, Stephenie was determined to keep going. “The difficult thing is that you don’t see results straight away; it’s not like if you eat clean

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Golden Flavours: Cooking up success with Barclays

Steve Albert, 32, is an entrepreneur and a pragmatic dreamer. When he started his company, Golden Flavours, he was barely 22. Ten years on, Golden Flavours is known for the quality of its products on the local market, distributing his brand of vinegar, tomato sauce and chill sauce in supermarkets around Mahé, but also in hotels, restaurants and fast foods.

“I remember being at the Polytechnic School, whenever I wanted my parents to buy chili sauce or tomato sauce at the supermarket, there was barely any choice, and it was always expensive. That’s when I realised the market for these condiments were very much open in Seychelles,” explains the young man. After leaving the polytechnic school, he decides to follow a course on entrepreneurship for small businesses at the Guy Morel Institute, giving him access to small grant to launch his business.

“Once I had registered my business and opened the account with Barclays, the next step was to find suppliers for the raw materials and spices. I went to Malaysia and South Africa, looking for the right blend of spices at the right price because I wanted my product to be affordable here. Today, I still get most of the spices from these countries, but I also use local vegetables for my production,” says Steve Albert. Once he bought his first batch of spices, he started experimenting with the mixture, trying to find the right balance of tastes

that would appeal to the public, and soon enough, the first bottles of condiments were produced in his small factory at Anse-aux-Pins. He also followed a course on food preparation and spice mixtures in 2007 in South Africa. Never one to rest on his laurels, as soon as the business started to move forward, Steve tried to come up with new ideas and revenue streams, always going to Barclays for help when he needed it.

I feel like more than just a customer “The relationship with Barclays is a very good one. I have always made sure that my payments were made in time and they have helped me along the way. Now, I feel like more than just a customer, they know me and I know them. I know I can tell the Barclays team about the issues I am having with my business, and they will give me advices and encouragements.

I have told them about my next project, and should soon be presenting them my project document,” he states. For 2015, Steve Albert has a slew of projects coming, with the biggest one being the construction of a new factory at Anse-auxPins. The new state of the art factory will not only enable him to increase his production of bottled vinegar, chili and tomato sauces, but also to start producing other products and flavours. “At one point, we were doing 10 different products, but when I noticed some worked better, I chose to focus on them. Now, I want to diversify because this will enable me to increase my profitability. By the end of 2015, my goal is that Golden Flavours be manufacturing 15 to 20 different products, from condiments to sauces,” declares the ambitious young man.

For more information, please visit our branches, Call our Contact Centre on 438 3939 or email sez.customerservices@barclays.com

and train for a whole week that you’ll step on the scale and see a massive difference in your weight. It takes at least a month or two to see proper results, and even then it’s not much. If you commit to getting in shape, you have to work hard at it and be in it for the long haul, the results you see eventually make it all worth it.” It took her nine months to lose 47kgs and she couldn’t be happier with her results. “You have to work for it; it’s the only way.”

Stephenie is so grateful to her old friends who have supported and encouraged her, her new friends from the gym, who have motivated and pushed her, but she is especially thankful for her parents. “My mom and dad are my everything, they are so supportive. My mom looks after my son, Khelan, when I’m working and going to gym. My dad is always Googling new workouts and healthy eating plans for me. They are so encouraging and they help me so much – I would never have been able to commit to getting in shape without them.” Stephenie, who still lives at home, says that her father even went so far as to create a home gym at the

“Me getting healthy has been a good thing for the whole family; even my son eats more healthily now – he likes to eat what I’m eating; he even steals my plain yoghurt sometimes.” house for her and he himself is into fitness too now. “Me getting healthy has been a good thing for the whole family; even my son eats more healthily now – he likes to eat what I’m eating; he even steals my plain yoghurt sometimes.” She smiles.

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“I would get on the scale, see that my weight was the same, and cry and cry.

It was depressing. It’s so difficult when you’re in that place and you don’t see a way out.”

After a less than pleasant split from her ex, Stephenie is weary of rushing into relationships, but that hasn’t stopped the attention she’s been getting since she got her shape back. “I do get a lot more attention from men nowadays; when I go out, I don’t even have to take my purse out of my bag, people just want to buy me drinks!” On the other side of the scale, there are those who are not so fond of her new look, “people are strange; when I was overweight people would say ‘you’re obese’, now that I’m in shape, people tell me I’m too skinny.” She’s slowly starting to realise that she needs to ignore what others have to say and focus on herself, and how she feels. She also doesn’t plan on losing any more weight – her goal is to stay at 61kgs, but keep toning up and maintaining her healthy lifestyle.

Besides the gym, she loves to dance, attend zumba classes, workout with her yoga DVDs and walk along the beach.

When I ask her for her advice to people in a similar situation as her, she says “it is not easy at all. But never give up. Keep at it; get advice, get people to support and encourage you. Remember to earn it and own it.

You have to go and sweat it out – even when you don’t feel like it, just get up and get active. Soon it becomes a part of your lifestyle and you can’t wait to get to the gym and you can’t wait to eat a healthy salad. It gets easier the longer you do it, just believe in yourself.”

Young in age, but wise beyond her years – Stephenie is proof that the harder you fall, the higher you bounce!

Musings of an Island Girl They do not see you stand in the bathroom and gather your resolve every morning. Splashing your face with water, staring in the mirror, sighing, brushing your teeth (maybe), picking up that toddler, drifting into the kitchen, pouring cereal in bowls, cleaning dishes, and making your cup of tea or coffee with a yawn.

They do not see those of you who mother alone without much support.

They do not see the way you look at the bank account and try to figure out how to make three meals with what is left in your pantry. They do not see you walking into the principal’s office, doctor’s office, friend’s house and defending your child. Alone.

STOP DOUBTING YOURSELF MOMS, SAYS TINA HOUAREAU Photographs: Joe Clothilde

You are enough You give of yourself.

They do not see bandages placed on knees. Quiet kisses on foreheads at night. Pillows pushed just the right way and blankets tucked to the perfect demands. Laundry folded and folded and folded. Tears that sting your eyes as you keep going. Dinners prepared with love. Times of laughter over silly things. Hair brushed and pulled back into pony tails. Prayers over little babes. Prayers over wandering teens. Nights spent asleep in a chair holding a sick child. Days where the house is a wreck but you are reading books. The courageous smile on your face when you are fatigued.

Those things matter.

Those things are the little things that add up and up and up. Second by second, minute by minute until they add up to hours which add up to create days which add up to create weeks which add up to create months which add up to create years which add up to create a life. A beautiful life filled with regular mommy moments.

I say those things are enough. I say you are enough.

Tina Houareau is a Seychellois living in the USA with her young son. She is an Instructional Designer for Capella University, where she recently completed her PhD in the same field.

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RELATIONSHIPS

My relationship with… my best friend For Jeannine Gilbert-Finnigan and Marie-Michelle Joseph it’s always about picking up right where they left off.

By Jeannine Gilbert-Finnigan No one wants to be at the mercy of life, standing alone, so every day I give thanks to all my beautiful friends across the globe. I am truly grateful for the people (old and new) who are bringing joy into my life, but one special person is my best friend of 27 years Marie-Michelle. We have known each other for 35 years but our special bond started in our late teens, the moment in our lives when we became young adults and understood the true value of friendship.

“WE LIVE THOUSANDS OF MILES APART BUT WE SPEAK ALMOST EVERY DAY ON THE PHONE OR VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.” Almost 12 years ago when I left Seychelles, one of my greatest fears was losing my friends who have been in my life for so long. Some of them had been in my life for as long as I can remember; as far back as primary school and many came into my life by coincidence; Michelle was one of them. Michelle and I have been friends since we were teenagers. We met when we started our post-secondary studies; we just so happened to be taking the same A-level subjects and we were both obsessed with reading. Exchanging novels became a ritual and that was the start of a beautiful friendship. Some people are quite surprised when they realise how close we are because we have completely different personalities. I am the quiet, reserved one with a discreet confidence where as my best friend is perhaps the vocal one who doesn’t mince her words. I love her because with her it’s always: what you see is what you get. We have been there for each other during all the lows and the highs of our lives.

I was there for her when she lost her sister and she was the first person

Michelle and I on my

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wedding day

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I called when I lost my father. When my first long-term relationship went pear-shaped I cried buckets on her shoulder and she helped me pick up the pieces and I stood by her during her break-ups too. She was maid-of-honour at my wedding and helped me plan my big day. She is the godmother of my daughter and best of all we both feel like we are part of each other’s families, which is an amazing feeling. We’ve had 27 years of great friendship and I am thankful for that. We live thousands of miles apart but we speak almost every day by phone or via social media and we see each other once or twice a year.

27 years on; our bond is still as strong as ever

“MY BEST FRIEND HAS BEEN A BLESSING, SHE CHALLENGED ME WHEN I DOUBTED MY ABILITY, MOTIVATED ME WHEN I WAS READY TO GIVE UP AND SHE WAS THERE FOR ME WHEN LIFE WAS NOT SO GOOD TO ME”.

What puzzles people most is that I have never been in Michelle’s friendship circle and she has never been in mine. When it comes to other friends we both socialise in different circles. Our friendship is about the two of us, and our family. We value the time spent together but giving each other space to get on with other aspects of our lives is important. We never judge each other and we rarely talk about friends in our individual friendship circle. We simple accept each other for who we are and we never try to change one another so that we can fit in with our other friends. We are never jealous of each other because we know that we will both drop everything to be at each other’s side if need be. With Michelle and I, it is about picking up where we left off, regardless of the time and distance that separates us. We are just happy to be in each other’s company. We even have date nights, when the two of us will go out for a meal and talk without interruptions.

It is a special kind of bond that perhaps some of our other friends

RELATIONSHIPS

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A good quality insurance policy therefore gives you that peace of mind that, whether you are with the vessel at the time or away from the vessel, you’re covered. As standard, we recommend comprehensive cover, as similar to your car and particularly if the value of your boat is relatively high then you need to ensure your own vessel is also fully repaired/ replaced in the event of an accident. This gives you less exposure to the potential of very expensive boat repair bills.

But the insurance does not take away your responsibility to ensure that your vessel is properly secured and maintained properly.

SACOS Marine Hull/Yacht Insurance has two distinctive risk groups, cover for which can be bought separately or together if necessary and is available for small boats through to ocean-going vessels: a) Hull cover b) Liability insurance

Michelle and her god-daughter (my daughter)

find intriguing. Some people even think we are related because we are rarely in the same social circle but always together!

My best friend has been a blessing, she challenged me when I doubted my ability, motivated me when I was ready to give up and she was there for me when life was not so good to me. She continues to do so even if we are miles apart.

I hope that others have been blessed with amazing friendships too and that they are grateful for those who are still in their lives. Friendship is an important part of life, so value your friends, treat them as you would like to be treated and you will be rewarded with trust, openness, support and never-ending friendship. I feel so blessed to have a friend like Michelle.

The hull and superstructure insurance covers the physical vessel itself against a list of maritime perils and is subject to what is called the ‘Institute time clause’. The cover always extends to both; physical damage to the vessel and collision liability.

The insured ship or boat is covered for loss or damage for a list of maritime perils called ‘perils at sea’, fire, explosion, violent theft, piracy, jettison, earthquake, tsunami and volcanic eruption. Some perils are subject to specific additional premiums depending on risk assessment.

Liability cover would include the insured’s liability to third parties, passengers and crew as well as third party material damage caused by you.

Contact the SACOS Insurance Company Ltd on telephone 4295,000 or Pay SACOS a visit at the SACOS Tower, Palm Street, Victoria.

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SPECIAL REPORT

Successful with

Down Syndrome

Being born with Down Syndrome may give you a challenging start in life, but with the right help and the right attitude anything is possible, as Mawess Mea Wirtz finds out The definition of a person with Down Syndrome is simple – it is a person who has either an extra full or partial copy of chromosome 21 resulting in 47 instead of the normal 46 chromosomes. The English doctor, John Langdon Down who first categorised it, did the usual and named the syndrome after himself, but it was Dr. Jerome Lejeune who actually discovered that it was a genetic disorder. Currently, the exact cause is unknown but statistics show that the older the mother is when she falls pregnant, the higher the chances that she would have a child born with DS. Women aged 30 or less have less than 1 in 1,000 chance of have a DS child, compared to 1 in 400 at age 35. Usually, women over the age of 35 are tested pre-birth for the condition through amniocentesis (testing the amniotic fluid). Statistics also show that parents who already have a Down Syndrome baby or have abnormalities in their own chromosome 21 are also high risk. But what is it like to have a Down Syndrome baby in Seychelles? What is it like to raise the child? How does it affect the family?

What help is there for parents and children alike?

Amazing Grace‌ how sweet the child.

Grace Mondon is 8 years old; she is an affectionate child who loves music and going to school. She is a very good student who perseveres in class and does sports well. She likes playing with her best friend, her twelve year old cousin Nashil and they share a passion for music. She loves to sing and dance. She is picky about food. She has Down Syndrome.

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Finding out the hard way.

Her mother, Georgette, was 30 when she was born and her father, Clifford was 33 years old. They had both been in good health and awaiting the birth of their daughter impatiently. The day that Grace was born was the HAPPIEST moment in their lives. Georgette had had multiple scans during her pregnancy but no one noticed anything wrong with her child, the first indication that something was amiss came AFTER Grace was born.

Mr Mondon remembers a nurse telling him that she thought that there was something wrong with his baby, but to wait for the doctor. As new parents, they were immediately filled with fear. The doctor came soon after, accompanied by a class he was teaching and while the parents waited fearfully, their child was passed around and examined, her characteristics were discussed and it was only after class was dismissed that the doctor informed them that Grace had Down Syndrome. Their world was rocked. Could you imagine what such a moment feels like?

Where there is a will, there is a way

Mr Mondon remembers telling himself that everything happens for a reason so he picked himself up, immediately started researching the syndrome and how he could make a good life for his child. Luckily, among the first sites, was a very uplifting one, it gave concrete advice and showed grown up Down Syndrome people who were successful professionally.

SPECIAL REPORT

He vowed that HIS daughter was going to get the most normal life he could provide and that nothing was going to prevent her from being everything she wanted to be.

A normal upbringing

And a normal upbringing is exactly what Grace has had. She is reprimanded for doing wrong and she is praised for doing right. She attended the Count and Read pre-school and despite some issues she successfully completed her duration there. She then moved to the Exceptional School and her parents have nothing but the greatest admiration for the teachers and staff. They credit a lot of Grace’s development to these amazing people’s commitment to her growth.

“HE VOWED THAT HIS DAUGHTER WAS GOING TO GET THE MOST NORMAL LIFE HE COULD PROVIDE AND THAT NOTHING WAS GOING TO PREVENT HER FROM BEING EVERYTHING SHE WANTED TO BE”.

With her favourite toys

With her mom

Surmounting the odds

From birth, Grace would constantly get sick but her parents would always research the best way to care for her and would liaise with her doctors to make sure that they were aware of exactly what was happening.

Her father has done this so much that friends have started seeing him as an endless source of medical advice. Parents must be aware that Down Syndrome predisposes one to certain medical conditions such as congenital heart defects, sleep apnea, and Alzheimer’s disease.

There is also evidence of an increased risk of celiac disease, autism, childhood leukemia and seizures. Endless, heartfelt gratitude goes to Dr Athanasius who has followed Grace from birth to now. Early intervention for babies with Down Syndrome is very important as appropriate physical and speech therapies for the first five years can make a major difference for that child’s physical and intellectual development.

At around six years old, her parents noticed that there was something wrong with one of her eyes and sought medical assistance. Despite being advised to leave it, her parents researched a hospital and raised funds to send her to have the eye checked and treated, luckily it was a case of, “good thing you trusted your gut feeling” because it turned out that Grace was about to lose her eye. Her parents will be eternally grateful to all the people they didn’t expect to help out, but who did. Thanks to them Grace’s eye was saved.

Truly exceptional

Grace attends the Exceptional School and never has a school been so aptly named. The staff that I have met are truly exceptional and the feats that they have achieved even more so. The achievements of the children despite their disabilities is the cherry on the cake. The school accepts students of all disabilities in Seychelles. The students range from being incapable of doing anything for themselves to those that have learnt to do so. Along with Grace, the school has around nine Down Syndrome children and I was surprised to find that they are not grouped together, rather students at the school are classed according to how much they have achieved.

Having fun at the playground

The curriculum changes according to the abilities of the child but the minute that they show that they are capable the teachers will attempt to get them to complete the National Curriculum used in all state schools.

Aside from academics, the school also has programs to help the students socialise successfully, work on their motor skills, give them life skills and other abilities that we take for granted. Students learn things like how to dress themselves, table manners, and basic household chores. These get continually challenging the more they master. The school was proud to tell me that some of their students could now cook, sew and maintain themselves effectively. Mr Mondon can vouch for the fact that Grace dresses herself and is quite independent.

The communication skills for Down Syndrome children are provided at the school by a speech therapist. This amazing woman works with improving the speech from mild to severe cases of various disabilities. There are students that start the school incapable of communicating effectively.

Where before her parents might have had trouble figuring out what Grace wanted, she has learned gestures that allow her to communicate her desires.

Down Syndrome children require physical therapy to strengthen their muscles before they can fine tune their motor skills. The PE teacher explained to me how the National Sports Council (NSC) provides this service before the students are ready to learn sports just like Grace does. Even then however, there needs to be continuous support and reinforcement to get them to follow the rules of the sport. Grace recently

Water play at school

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SPECIAL REPORT

competed in the Special Olympics National competition in the 50m walk and made her parents proud to see her receive her medal from Minister Meriton.

The Seychelles Special Olympics

The other organisation that helps out with the development of the young Down Syndrome children focuses on sports. A short interview with the National Director of the Seychelles Special Olympics, Ms Erica Celeste, cleared up what services they provided. The organisation conducts training of the disabled at various sports every Sunday but they do not have a bus, therefore the younger and more severe cases can only train at the Exceptional School. The ages range from 8 to “as old as you are when you stop” but the others are also registered to the association. Ms Celeste says that the training of the Down Syndrome athletes requires repetition of the same concepts every Sunday and endless patience. The performance of our athletes in the World Olympics however, is worth it. She notes that with Down Syndrome, a high level of positive reinforcement needs to be maintained. Usually she uses a plethora of high fives and hugs to steer her charges to success. The organisation is also going to start their young athletes programme and have a competition later in the year.

“THE STUDENTS RANGE FROM BEING INCAPABLE OF DOING ANYTHING FOR THEMSELVES TO THOSE WHO HAVE LEARNT HOW TO DO THINGS ON THEIR OWN”.

How is she now?

Grace doesn’t really talk, but make no mistake, she communicates effectively, she may not be able tell her parents something in sentences but through a combination of words and gestures, she makes her point. In her studies, she has been working diligently and is capable of doing a lot of small activities. Her teachers are proud of her progress and admire her for always keeping everything tidy, cleaning up after each activity all on her own. Cleanliness is definitely the next step to Godliness for Grace.

She is no longer sickly and she lives like any 8-year old, loving to have fun with no idea that she is different.

Down Syndrome takes centre-stage in 2015 A recent CNN.com article by David M Perry, highlighted how the spotlight is on Down Syndrome this year; in the article he wrote: “Down syndrome, with all its promise and challenges, has never been more visible: Jamie Brewer, an actress with Down Syndrome, just walked the catwalk at New York Fashion Week. A video of a girl with Down Syndrome singing a John Legend song went viral, receiving 6 million page views and counting. People were so moved by the story of a father choosing his son with Down Syndrome over his marriage that they donated over $500,000 to his care (although the father’s story has now been called into question).” The writer himself is the father of a Down Syndrome son, so he’s experienced to comment on the condition and went on to say: “Thanks to the power of the Internet and the commitment of activists, politicians and experts of all sorts, access to these antidotes [information, experts and community] has never been easier.”

And it’s true – you’re not alone.

Useful contact numbers and details: Exceptional School Seychelles: Call (+248) 4283057 / website: http://www.ecoschoolseychelles.org/school-forthe-exceptional-child.html Further reading and advice: https://www.worlddownsyndromeday.org/ http://www.down-syndrome.org https://www.ds-int.org http://www.downsyndrome.org.za/ International World Down Syndrome day is on 21 March

In the future….

The future looks bright because some research shows that people with Down Syndrome who have certain heart defects or childhood leukemia are more likely than their typical counterparts to recover or recover more quickly. It is also rare for a person with Down Syndrome to have a solid tumor cancer or cardiovascular disease, (including heart attack and stroke). Her father says that ideally he would like to set her up with her own business because he is unsure about how she would be treated in someone’s employment. And when I asked him about dating, he says he thinks he is ok with it and he wants her to find someone, but I get the impression that it will take one amazing man to marry the Mondon princess. Over-protective is an understatement (and I mean this in the nicest way possible)! Research tells me that today the lifespan of a person with Down Syndrome is around 60 years, unlike as recently as 1983, when the average lifespan was 25 years. The average IQ has also increased so Grace might well soon be the successful businesswoman her father wants her to be.

One year old

Building for the future

Mr Mondon has invested in so many projects that help out the disabled children. He set up the breakfast programme for the Exceptional School and he wants to set up a Down Syndrome club, where other parents can come together and work on improving the facilities available for Down Syndrome children.

Down syndrome in the world

At Farquhar

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Although children and adults with Down Syndrome may share some common features, they look more like their immediate family members than like each other. Actors such as Chris Burke, who played Corky in Life Goes On, and Lauren Potter, who plays Becky Jackson on Glee, show us that there is no barrier in being Down Syndrome, afterall, those two made it in HOLLYWOOD! Something most of us can only dream about.

SPECIAL REPORT

Before surgery

After surgery

Exceptional School

Exceptional School

MARCH 2015 | POTPOURRI

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A treasure trove in Baie Lazare In the heart of Baie Lazare, Lynette Botha discovers an unsuspecting place that houses a lot of history and a lot of heart Joseph Larue is an anomaly. He doesn’t have an email address, he’s not really interested in TV and he thinks social media is ruining relationships. He longs for the old days, when life was simpler. He recalls days gone by, when he was a young boy and his family would take turns to tell stories in the evening because they had no television – his grandfather, his mother and his father, all taking turns to share a tale – and before he knew it, it was bedtime. He misses those days, when life moved at a slower pace and people weren’t consumed by technology and entertainment.

It’s no surprise then to learn about his great and deep-seated love for history. Joseph owns Lazare Souvenir, Museum and Gallery in Baie Lazare – a treasure trove of trinkets from the past. And while it’s only been open for around six months, the store was previously located in Victoria, called Yves Souvenir Cachée, where it had been for 15 years.

There are fascinating things he has collected over the years – from old

spectacles, gramophones and typewriters to records, coins and even an old electricity receipt dating decades back with a monthly total so little, you’d choke comparing it to the bills of today.

When I ask him where the majority of his things come from, he says “You won’t believe it, but most of these things I have picked up in the junk yard; people just throw this stuff out. There is not much of a culture of history and remembrance in Seychelles – people don’t seem to treasure family heirlooms. If older members of their family pass on, they tend to just throw their stuff out; they don’t hold on to it or restore it.” But he’s not complaining – he’s picked up many amazing pieces from the junkyard, including the prized bicycle with the “open” sign affixed to it that stands proudly outside the store’s front door. “It’s like the old adage goes, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure,” he says. Apart from housing historical items of Seychelles’ past, the walls are adorned with art for sale from local artists, many of whom Joseph is friends with.

Most of the work showcased is done by artists from the Baie Lazare area and gets them a lot of exposure. “Yeh, the art sells well here – and as soon as something is sold, I call them up and say ‘there’s a gap on the wall, I need a replacement’.” He smiles as he tells me this. Joseph has an extremely calm and warm nature, and shares his knowledge and stories openly. Which is why I’m not surprised when he tells me that he often has groups from schools who come by to visit, and he gives them a guided tour of the place and answers their questions.

“IT’S LIKE THE OLD ADAGE GOES, ONE MAN’S JUNK IS ANOTHER MAN’S TREASURE,” HE SAYS. Every year since 2003, Joseph has visited the UK at least once; unlike many locals who mainly travel abroad to shop and enjoy the finer things in life, he loves to visit other places and experience their culture and history. Of all the places he’s travelled to he says that the museums and antique stores that he visited in the UK and South Africa have had the biggest influence on how he curates things and have further inspired him to keep hunting for souvenirs and artifacts to display.

There is no cover fee to visit the museum, and when I ask him if he’ll ever charge one in the future, he responds, “never; I will never have a fee to come in. I am grateful for any donations, of course, so that I can carry on collecting and preserving history, but I will never charge for viewing.” Do people often leave donations I ask? “Not all the time, but I get a few, normally SR25 or SR50; the most I have received was SR100 from a local lady who was so impressed by the place.” Joseph has many foreigners visit and says they are always impressed with what he has done with the place and they ask a lot of questions; “they really love it; you just need to read my guest book to see for yourself”.

THE UK AND SOUTH AFRICA HAVE HAD THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON HOW HE CURATES THINGS AND HAVE FURTHER INSPIRED HIM TO KEEP HUNTING FOR SOUVENIRS AND ARTIFACTS TO DISPLAY. Exclusive Distributor:

Mamma Mia (Pty) Ltd t: 4 374 545 | e: mammamia@seychelles.net

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When choosing the colourful outside of Joseph’s museum as the backdrop for our cover shoot this month, we had no idea of the amazing history that lay beneath nor the friendly, genuine man responsible for it. As they say, everything happens for a reason. Do yourself a favour and pay the place a visit – you won’t be sorry.

EYLLBEING

Joseph Larue in his favourite space, his museum

SEYLLBEING

SEYLLBEING Seychelles & Wellbeing

holistic treatment by therapists who come to you yoga I therapy I ayurveda I acupressure www.seyllbeing.com I fb.com/seyllbeing I +248 258 42 36

MARCH 2015 | POTPOURRI

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SPECIAL REPORT

Of broken homes mended souls

Domestic violence is something very prevalent in our country, but a subject that remains greatly taboo. This month we look at a survivor’s tale as well as telltale signs that it’s time to get out and how to ask for help….

By Marie-France Watson and Lynette Botha

A survivor’s tale

One woman shares her story of living with and loving an abusive partner – and how she finally got out Cecile’s love story with Mark started when she was just 16 years old. He was her first love. Coming from a home that was struggling with certain social issues including mental illness, Mark’s presence in her life was comforting. His possessiveness, which she now she realises was an early sign of things to come, was at the time reassuring for her. He loved her and wanted to protect her. Despite advice that the relationship would not work from family and close friends, Cecile could not wait to marry Mark at 22. Her excitement at the prospect of building a life with the man she loved caused her to turn a blind eye to the occasional slaps, which had started to surface. She dismissed them as irrelevant and was certain they would stop when she became his wife.

She was wrong. While the physical abuse was not a daily occurrence, in fact she recalls only two or three serious incidents in each year of their marriage, the psychological ones were more frequent. In fits of rage he would break things in the house, throw her out of the car they owned (and often in places where she would be left stranded and far away from home) and also threaten to kick her out of the house they owned. Looking back, Cecile realises that it was all part of his need to control her. Instilling fear in her was his way of reminding her who was the boss. While she refuses to be labeled a victim, Cecile admits that psychologically he broke her. After each incident he would cry and ask for forgiveness, but in the same breath he would blame her for it; if only she had listened to him or not answered back, he would have never raised his hand to her. She would believe him for many reasons, one of which was she always wanted her marriage to work out.

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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE HOME

The arrival of their son, Myles, did not change Mark’s anger with the world. While she can’t confirm whether Myles ever witnessed a physical incident she knows he heard them. In fact, his reaction to a particular fight was the moment she decided she had to leave Mark. Myles stood in the corridor outside their bedroom in the middle of an intense verbal fight and shouted, ’stop making me pee in my pants’. Cecile there and then realised that she had not managed to keep her marital problems separate from her child. At four, he was already consumed with fear. This was day one in the countdown to her divorce.

According to helpguide.org, an international site for information and help with mental and emotional health, the most telling sign is fear of your partner. “If you feel like you have to walk on eggshells around your partner—constantly watching what you say and do in order to avoid a blow-up—chances are your relationship is unhealthy and abusive.

Other signs that you may be in an abusive relationship include a partner who belittles you or tries to control you, and feelings of self-loathing, helplessness, and desperation.”

The process would take two years. Cecile explained that she has never been a person who made rushed decisions. To leave Mark she had to be independent. They shared a home, a car and he was privy to all her financials. She had to change all that. During those two years, life went on and the abuse went on. At times she felt hopeful that things could change. Afterall, she had a home, an extended family and a status. Was it worth giving all this up? And there was another important factor to consider as well; shame. How would her family react? What would everyone think? Aside from a bloody nose once, her bruises had always been hidden from the world. No one knew of her torment.

Turning 30 was a turning point in her life. In January that year she laid the cards on the table to Mark – no more cheating and no more hitting.

He agreed and kept his promise for just over a month. An incident where she stayed at an event for one hour longer than she had promised resulted in an assault while she slept and a broken arm when she reacted.

The morning after that incident, Cecile walked out.

It’s been over a decade now since that day. For the most part Cecile feels that she has moved on. She can talk about it without crying and is able to analyse the entire 14 years with Mark from both perspectives. Mark’s mother had been openly unfaithful to his father causing him to have a low opinion of women in general. According to her, a man who ‘hates’ his mother or sister has issues which need to be addressed. Also, she reckons that Mark could never truly accept the woman she grew into over the years. At 16, she was a child and as she matured she changed and he lost his control over her. Academically, she was also a step ahead of him. She never thought that would have anything to do with anything, but she does recall conversations with polytechnic friends many years ago where they expressed concerns over their compatibility. The fact that she was accepted into the school she wanted and he didn’t most likely did not sit well with him.

On the other hand, parts of the abuse puzzle have stayed with her. It’s taken her years to trust her current partner. Years into their relationship she still has trouble believing he would never hit her or threaten to leave her. It is a work in progress and it always will be.

The most recent statistics for domestic violence cases in Seychelles are from 2013. Where figures show that domestic violence in the home grew considerably from 472 cases in 2010, 589 in 2011, 670 in 2012 to 617 cases in 2013. Bearing in mind these are cases that are reported – more often than not, domestic violence is tolerated in the home for years and years, before it is (if ever) reported. Also to note, is that these cases all included physical harm – domestic abuse may include emotional or psychological damage, but domestic violence indicates that the victim was physically harmed.

FOR YOU How to recognise abuse Domestic abuse often starts out as verbal and emotional abuse; arguments start, name-calling and blaming is thrown in, foul language and threats may arise. This tends to escalate over weeks, months and years. While physically, bodily violence seems the most dangerous, it’s generally the emotional and psychological element that causes the most damage over time. Emotionally abusive relationships lower your selfworth, lead to anxiety and depression, and make you feel helpless and alone. Domestic abuse knows no bounds – it affects women, men and children, whether in a partnership or married, no matter race or religion – and it is extremely damaging to all involved.

Signs of an abusive relationship Knowing how to identify the signs of an abusive relationship is the first step in getting help, and removing yourself from this toxic situation.

SIGNS THAT YOU’RE IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP Your Inner Thoughts and Feelings

Your Partner’s Belittling Behavior

Do you: Feel afraid of your partner much of the time?

Does your partner: Humiliate or yell at you?

Avoid certain topics out of fear of angering your partner?

Criticize you and put you down?

Feel that you can’t do anything right for your partner?

Treat you so badly that you’re embarrassed for your friends or family to see?

Believe that you deserve to be hurt or mistreated?

Ignore or put down your opinions or accomplishments?

Wonder if you’re the one who is crazy?

Blame you for their own abusive behavior?

Feel emotionally numb or helpless?

See you as property or a sex object, rather than as a person?

Your Partner’s Violent Behaviour or Threats

Your Partner’s Controlling Behaviour

Does your partner: Have a bad and unpredictable temper?

Does your partner: Act excessively jealous and possessive?

Hurt you, or threaten to hurt or kill you?

Control where you go or what you do?

Threaten to take your children away or harm them?

Keep you from seeing your friends or family?

Threaten to commit suicide if you leave?

Limit your access to money, the phone, or the car?

Force you to have sex?

Limit who you see and where you go?

Destroy your belongings?

Constantly check up on you?

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SPECIAL REPORT

“If you feel like you have to walk on eggshells around your partner—constantly watching what you say and do in order to avoid a blow-up—chances are your relationship is unhealthy and abusive. Other signs that you may be in an abusive relationship include a partner who belittles you or tries to control you, and feelings of self-loathing, helplessness, and desperation.”

SPECIAL REPORT

The site offers the following table to determine whether your relationship is abusive. The more “yes” answers, the more likely it is that you’re in an abusive relationship.

FOR FRIENDS & FAMILY Recognising the warning signs of domestic violence and abuse It’s impossible to know with certainty what goes on behind closed doors, but there are some telltale signs and symptoms of emotional abuse and domestic violence. If you witness any warning signs of abuse in a friend, family member, or co-worker, take them very seriously.

General warning signs of domestic abuse People who are being abused may: • Seem afraid or anxious to please their partner • Go along with everything their partner says and does • Check in often with their partner to report where they are and what

they’re doing • Receive frequent, harassing phone calls from their partner • Talk about their partner’s temper, jealousy, or possessiveness Warning signs of physical violence People who are being physically abused may: • Have frequent injuries, with the excuse of “accidents” • Frequently miss work, school, or social occasions, without explanation • Dress in clothing designed to hide bruises or scars (e.g. wearing long

sleeves in the summer or sunglasses indoors) Warning signs of isolation People who are being isolated by their abuser may: • Be restricted from seeing family and friends • Rarely go out in public without their partner • Have limited access to money, credit cards, or the car The psychological warning signs of abuse People who are being abused may: • Have very low self-esteem, even if they used to be confident • Show major personality changes (e.g. an outgoing person becomes withdrawn) • Be depressed, anxious, or suicidal

GETTING OUT AND GETTING HELP Whether or not you’re ready to leave your abuser, there are things you can do to protect yourself. These safety tips can make the difference between being severely injured or killed and escaping with your life.

PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES: Know your abuser’s red flags.

Be on alert for signs and clues that your abuser is getting upset and may

explode in anger or violence. Come up with several believable reasons you can use to leave the house (both during the day and at night) if you sense trouble brewing.

Identify safe areas of the house.

Know where to go if your abuser attacks or an argument starts. Avoid small, enclosed spaces without exits (such as closets or bathrooms) or rooms with weapons (such as the kitchen). If possible, head for a room with a phone and an outside door or window.

Come up with a code word.

Establish a word, phrase, or signal you can use to let your children, friends, neighbours, or co-workers know that you’re in danger and the police should be called.

Make an escape plan Be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Keep the car fueled up and facing the driveway exit, with the driver’s door unlocked. Hide a spare car key where you can get it quickly. Have emergency cash, clothing, and important phone numbers and documents stashed in a safe place (at a friend’s house, for example).

Practice escaping quickly and safely.

Rehearse your escape plan so you know exactly what to do if under attack from your abuser. If you have children, have them practice the escape plan also.

Make and memorise a list of emergency contacts.

Ask several trusted individuals if you can contact them if you need a ride, a place to stay, or help contacting the police. Memorise the numbers of your family, emergency contacts and a domestic violence hotline.

IT IS STILL ABUSE IF...

EMERGENCY CONTACTS AND INFORMATION

•

•

•

•

Emergency: 999 Hotline: 133 Central Police Station: 428 80 00

The incidents of physical abuse seem minor when compared to those you have read about, seen on television or heard other women talk about. There isn’t a “better” or “worse” form of physical abuse; you can be severely injured as a result of being pushed, for example.

The incidents of physical abuse have only occurred one or two times in the relationship. Studies indicate that if your spouse or partner has injured you once, it is likely he will continue to physically assault you.

The physical assaults stopped when you became passive and gave up your right to express yourself as you desire, to move about freely and see others, and to make decisions. It is not a victory if you have to give up your rights as a person and a partner in exchange for not being assaulted!

There has not been any physical violence. Many women are emotionally and verbally assaulted. This can be as equally frightening and is often more confusing to try to understand.

Source: Breaking the Silence Handbook

HOSPITAL Emergency: 151 Seychelles Hospital: 438 80 00 Praslin Hospital: 423 23 33 La Digue Logan Hospital: 423 42 55 Alliance of Solidarity for the Family (ASFF) Call: +248 432 3211; 252 5711; 250 1247 E-mail: asff@seychelles.net http://www.civilsociety.sc/ Seychelles National Council for Children (NCC) NCC OR SOCIAL SERVICES HELPLINE: 422 4390 Email: ncc@seychelles.sc The names have been changed to protect the family’s privacy.

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BUY & BOX

Shopping in the UAE? Take a lot more, for a lot less!

For all of your shopping in one box, call 4391048 or e-mail cargocommercial@airseychelles.com

Terms and Conditions Apply. Air Seychelles & Air Seychelles Cargo can’t be held liable for any third-party taxes or fees levied by the local authorities at any side, such as (but not limit to) customs fees, additional handling, storage, import tax,etc.. Items may be subject to import tax or customs duty in the Seychelles: those charges will be billed separately by local authorities, MARCH 2015 | POTPOURRI 20 if applicable. Seychelles Box shipments are subject to standard Terms and Conditions of Air Seychelles & Air Seychelles Cargo.

SEYCHELLOIS OVERSEAS

Former Beauty Queen on a Divine Mission The moment the Jane Stravens changed her birth year on an application form so that she would be old enough to participate in the Miss Seychelles 1972 contest, she had no idea of what was to come. Not only she would win that crown but also make it to the top 10 finalists in the Miss World contest in London later on that same year. The decision was not even one that had been thought through adequately. She had simply wanted to try her luck in the national pageant and when being 16 was the only deterrent standing in her way, she changed a number. Looking back, she realises that it also changed her life.

By Jane Edna Stravens

Jane was born in Seychelles to Joachim and Marie Stravens in 1956. As is common with many families where the head was part of the police force, they move around the island quite a bit. As a child, this provided a wonderful real-life ‘Alice in Wonderland’ scenario for Jane who in turn got to learn about different places and beaches. They must have made quite an impression on her since many of these locations are featured in the books she wrote as an adult such as “Shirley and Her Friends the Dolphins - Listen To The Silence” where the main character, Shirley, is from a small village called Quatre Borne in the district of Takamaka.

Following her crowning as Miss Seychelles in 1972, which made her a household name on the islands, Jane went on to spend six extraordinary weeks in London as part of the Miss World contest. This of course happened after Eric Morley had been informed that a 16 year old had won the crown and still gave the approval for her to participate. Jane would end up making history for Seychelles as far as Miss World goes; to date she is the only Seychellois who has made it to the top 10 finalists. Turning down a modeling contract after the pageant, Jane returned to Seychelles and started a career in the travelling business. She’d had already had a taste of it and she wasn’t about to lose it. Working with the Travel Services Seychelles gave way to travelling opportunities which Jane longed for.

It was in the 1980’s that she finally succumbed to the inner voice that kept telling her that

beyond Seychelles’ shores something new and exciting was waiting for her.

The place was Italy. For the longest time Jane had felt a fascination with this country which has been the starting point of phenomena of international impact such as the Roman Empire, the Roman Catholic Church, the Renaissance and the Risorgimento. Indeed, the cultural element of a life in Italy is one of the boxes that had to be ticked for the move to take place.

“There’s one recurring element in most of Jane’s endeavors and pursuits and that is her interest in the divine powers.”

Italy did not disappoint Jane; in fact it provided ample playground for her to explore multiple interests and talents. Forward the clock and we have a Degree in Theology, three years spent at the Brera Fine Arts Academy; one of the most important art education institutions in Italy, six published books and four more waiting to be published. There’s one recurring element in most of Jane’s endeavors and pursuits and that is her interest in the divine powers, or simply put, God. “God is everything to me,” Jane confides. She recalls how when she was growing up, practicing religion was never a discussion in her home, it simply was. Church was attended every Sunday and every night her mother would gather the family together to pray. Following a particular difficult time in Italy she decided to deepen her knowledge in religion as part of building a stronger relationship with God. As she puts it, “before there was a flame and now it’s a full blown fire”. Not one to keep any acquired knowledge to herself, Jane also makes time to teach children catechism and also the arts.

A desire to share her love for God coupled with childhood memories that continued to infiltrate her thoughts, her first book came to life; How to Be Useful to Humanity The Birth of Silk. “I have always had something to say,” Jane says. Jane also states that it is a wonderful thing to encourage children to cultivate their passions from an early age. Jane also takes credit for the colourful illustrations in her books. Her interest in developing her artistic side has not seen its final light since she expresses further interest in learning more.

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SEYCHELLOIS OVERSEAS

On her mind right now is the EXPO (research on food and energy) which will be in Milan this year, from the 1st of May to the 31st of October. Jane is organising the 2nd edition of the “Children’s Painting World Competition and Exhibition, entitled “Praising the Lord

Together”, in order to give praise and thanks to God for all that he has given us to enjoy for our health and beauty.

This initiative has been blessed by Pope Benedict 16° more than two years ago. Jane extends the invitation to participate to the children of Seychelles; find out more by going to Jane’s website: www.janestravens.com Jane’s to-do list seems to be a neverending shrinking one. Her thirst for knowledge, her love of life along with her devotion to God keeps her going on to the next thing and the next…

Jane’s books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Nobles (US) and also from her website www. janestravens.com

Jane as Miss Seychelles

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Good, honest fun, along with lethal cocktails, guitars and crayfish have Brigitte Monchouguy in high spirits

Alas many were under size and some were breeders so we did the responsible thing and released them back into the ocean. We gathered the remaining three lobsters and put on our snorkelling gear to dive for Roe’s abalone, prying them off the surrounding rocks and straight into our mesh bags.

W

Back at J’s brother’s house we prepared a feast of lobster and abalone cooked two ways – one in a parsley, butter and white wine sauce and the other with garlic and chili. Serving it with a fresh grapefruit and almond salad, crusty Yallingup Bakery woodfired sourdough bread and homemade lemonade, we enjoyed a veritable feast from sea to table in less than two hours.

Delicious! Until next time, if you can’t be good, be good at it.

renée martin designs

ord around town was that our friend, Crispin, was holding a bona fide Aussie bush party to celebrate his 40th birthday. My boyfriend, J and I decided to head down south to check it out. We made the three-hour journey from Perth straight after work, stopping only for a petrol refill and chiko roll to snack on. Let it be said that rural West Australian service stations are far from a culinary mecca.

We arrived in Margaret River in total darkness and had to pitch our tent in the dead of night, thankfully aided by head torches and my partner’s impressive camping skills. We woke up the next morning under the blazing sun and drove straight to Redgate Beach for a reviving dip, then took advantage of the low tide to bait our licensed crayfish pots before cooking a breakfast of bacon and eggs on the barbie.

While the crayfish pots worked their magic we decided to visit Gunyulgup Galleries, discovering some beautiful locally made glass sculptures and landscape paintings.

Then we headed to Crispin’s own little piece of heaven along the river, where he and his wife have just completed building their three bedroom log cabin, set in untouched bushland. A suckling pig was already roasting on a spit and we set about making Crispin’s grandmother’s famous tea punch, a recipe which has been passed down from generation to generation and is surprisingly lethal once laced with the requisite gin, rum or brandy!

Guitars and drums were brought out and we had a group sing-a-long underneath the stars late into the night. It was good, honest fun.

The next day J and I went for our morning swim and checked on the crayfish pots. We were elated to discover a total of 22 crayfish (Western Rock Lobsters) in our two pots.

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Mrs Underwood’s Tea Punch A.

B.

C.

Brew 2 tbsp black tea in 3 cups of boiling water. Let stand for 5 minutes then strain.

Dissolve ½ cup sugar in 2 cups of boiling water. Add a handful of fresh mint and infuse for 5 minutes. Strain and while still hot, stir in ¼ cup of red currant jelly. Combine A and B. Let stand until cool.

Mix 2 cups of orange juice, 2 cups of pineapple juice and the juice of 6 lemons. Combine C with A and B. Store in jugs or bottles in the fridge until needed.

When ready to serve the punch combine 1/3 of the ABC mixture with 2/3 cold ginger beer, lemonade or soda.

Spike with gin, rum or brandy and serve over ice in tea cups with a fresh mint leaf as garnish.

Brigitte Monchouguy is a Seychellois legal practitioner with a passion for social journalism. She is happiest when travelling, with interests in music, art, theatre and architecture. She also dabbles in mixology and will be sharing cocktail recipes along with her monthly escapades.

| From London to Mahé |

The difference between men and women Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus? Despite not liking gender labels, Daniel Balkwill tends to agree

G

ender stereotypes are hateful things.

Casually labelling 50% of the world’s population with exactly the same attributes is just plain ignorant.

Personally, I can’t bear it when a lady rolls her eyes and says “Huh, typical man”. I’m sure ladies find their hackles rising when a so-called gentleman suggests that all women talk too much, spend an excessive amount of time in the bathroom and can’t throw

“CLICHÉS AND STEREOTYPES ONLY EXIST BECAUSE THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY MIRED IN TRUTH BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT THEY APPLY ACROSS THE BOARD.” things properly just as we take umbrage at being accused of being emotionally stunted, thinking exclusively with our nether regions and possessing an innate inability to multitask. It is perhaps the last of these alleged typical male traits that annoys me the most but I shall revisit that point later.

Clichés and stereotypes only exist because they are essentially mired in truth but that doesn’t mean that they apply across the board. Come to think of it, I don’t actually know of any particular woman who talks

sparingly, spends an acceptable amount of time whilst getting ready in the morning and has a devilish throwing arm but I am convinced such individuals are to be found.

Similarly, I’ve not met any men who can emote freely, rarely obsess over the fairer sex and have the ability to rustle up a Cordon Bleu meal whilst juggling a set of flaming skittles but there must surely be such folk in existence too.

Not long ago I reached the end of my working day. Nothing of much note had happened. Such is the fickle world of retail.

Undeterred by the paucity of the day’s successes, I set off for home, striding along the Providence highway with my usual combination of pace and purpose. As a wise man once said, the sooner you get home, the sooner you get to chill out and play with the dog.

Upon my return, there was clearly a situation of domestic upheaval. The car’s battery was flat and there was an imminent storm threatening. We all had to help push the stricken vehicle into the garage before the full might of the tropical elements was unleashed. Despite the rigours of a day at work followed by a three mile hike I threw myself into the task with gusto. Although there was some initial resistance, the car began to inch slowly towards its intended shelter.

It was at this point that things began to go awry. Ossie the dog had been observing this curious activity and decided to get involved. Normally he views me as his faithful companion and playmate but on this occasion something had clearly shortcircuited in his mind. As I was pushing the car with both arms fully extended and unable to protect myself I suddenly felt him jump on my back.

Dan works for Kreol Wines - a wine shop located at Eden Plaza on Eden Island, specialising in Argentinian, Australian, French and South African products.

Opening hours: Monday - Friday, 9am - 6.30pm; Saturday, 10am - 6pm; Sunday, 10am - 4pm

It was then, in the midst of my canine torment, that I experienced an unexpected moment of clarity. I was shoving a heavy car with all my might, desperately fending off the unwanted advances of an amorous, temporarily sexually confused 45 kilogram dog with my left leg and breathing all at the same time. Perhaps men can multitask after all.

H

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Life, love and everything in between In an interview with George Negus in 1979, Bob Marley clearly stated what richness meant to him.

Interviewer: Bob Marley: Interviewer:

Bob Marley: Interviewer: Bob Marley:

Have you made a lot of money out of your music?

Money? How much is a lot of money to you?

Yes, that’s a good question. Have you made, say, millions of dollars? Are you a rich man?

When you say rich, what do you mean?

Do you have lots of possessions? Lots of money in the bank?

Possessions make you rich? I don’t have that kind of richness, my richness is life... forever.

His answer was so simple, yet so profound and thought provoking. It made me reevaluate things too, and ask myself: what is richness? What makes someone rich? Is it their flashy car and their nice house? Or is it that their family is happy and healthy and loved, with a roof over their heads and food in their stomachs?

Discovering the richness of Life The true meaning of wealth has nothing to do with money, says Alexandria Faure

In this one interview Bob Marley encapsulates something meaningful and true; that richness is life.

We spend so much time in our lives chasing after materialistic things and accumulating wealth; we think possessions and status make us successful, ignorantly unaware that the richness of life exists in nature, in our loved ones and in ourselves. We may all have different perspectives on life and varying opinions but this is definitely something worth pondering (and something we can all agree on…?).

Alexandria Faure is a freelance writer with a degree in Drama & Theatre Arts and hopes to pursue a masters in the near future. She is passionate about preserving the unique Kreol culture and heritage of Seychelles, and her hobby is researching different cultural aspects of Seychelles and the historical stories behind them. She hopes to share ideas and thoughts drawn from her life experiences in her articles.

EATING WELL WITHIN YOUR BUDGET Tips and tricks to make your food go further with Celia Ponzo

H E ALTHY CHOICES

As soon as we hear the term ‘healthy eating’, we immediately feel our wallets draining. We tend to think that eating healthier foods is going to be a burden on our grocery bill and that only wealthy people can afford to eat well. Moreover, there is a common belief that eating healthily costs too much money to be sustainable.

and fibre-rich carbohydrates, yet this miracle food is seen as a ‘poor food’, which our grandparents used to eat. Yet our grandparents were healthier and less likely to die of any cardiovascular diseases, as they were not exposed to so much imported junk food full of salt, sugar and fat. So follow their example!

But that’s where we’re wrong. It is possible to eat healthily, without blowing our budgets. The cost of food, and especially fruits and vegetables, in the Seychelles is high, but here are some tips that can help you stick to eating well without breaking the bank…

ENJOY YOUR LEFT OVERS

TRACK YOUR SPENDING

Set aside a specific amount of money you’re willing to spend on food for the week. Withdraw that amount and store it in an envelope. Once the money is gone from that envelope your spending for the week on groceries is done and now all there is left for you to do is be creative with what you already have in your kitchen. You will be surprised; there are so many delicious things that can be made from your kitchen pantry. Make sure you include a big selection of fruit and vegetables in your weekly purchases. Create a budget for your food per week and write down every cent you are spending on food initially, to help you understand where you are spending the most. Ensure that your budget is reasonable in terms of your income and basic needs.

MIX AND MATCH WHAT IS LEFT IN YOUR KITCHEN

Use up what is left in your kitchen cupboard. Many times we still have food in our cupboards or fridge that we have not eaten or not even opened, yet we go shopping. Come up with something inventive to make with what you have; it may take a little more creativity but at least it will save having to go shopping. And at the same time ensures everything you buy is not wasted.

SHOP LOCALLY AND EAT LOCALLY

Explore the market and the local stands along the road or even ask your neighbour what she has in her back garden. We all know that the cost of vegetables and fruits at the market can be expensive but why not go back in time, to when people used to share and swap the produce from their gardens? Nowadays we pass by homes where fruits are rotting on the floor never to be eaten. Things like breadfruit, which is full of nutrients

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Never throw food away, rather store it properly in clean, airtight containers in the fridge, or sealed in the cupboard. Then quickly and easily transform the previous night’s dinner into a healthy lunch. This will save you a trip to the take-away van at lunchtime – it will save you money as well as ensure you’re not eating excess salt, sugar and fats.

PLAN YOUR MEALS

Planning your weekly menu is vital to keeping healthy. By thinking ahead about what you are going to cook for each meal you are more likely to stick to only the ingredients you need, and not spend money on unnecessary items and impulse buys. It is important to take stock of what you already have on hand so you’re only buying exactly what you need.

CUT THE JUNK FROM YOUR BILL

This is my last point and probably the most powerful one. Make a list of all the junk food you are buying. Whether it is the two samoosas at your tea break or the packets of biscuits, crisps and chocolate in your trolley.

You will be surprised how much you spend on these types of foods and because these are seen as ‘necessities’ you have never questioned their cost. Now cut those out at your next grocery shop and see how much money you have saved. Then use that saved money to buy extra fruit and vegetables. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Célia is passionate to inspire happier and healthier lives by sharing holistic tips to her public. Her background is in medical anthropology and public health. She is currently working in the nutrition unit at the ministry of health.

Le combat pour le droit des femmes Il y a tout juste 40 ans en France, le 17 janvier 1975, la loi Veil légalisant l’interruption volontaire de grossesse était promulguée.

Jusque-là, avorter pour une raison non médicale était un délit passible de prison. Ce combat pour le droit à l’avortement a été celui d’une femme, Simone Veil, ministre de la santé sous le gouvernement de Valéry Giscard d’Estaing. Elle était soutenue à l’époque par les personnalités françaises telles que la philosophe Simone de Beauvoir, l’écrivain Françoise Sagan, l’avocate Gisèle Halimi, les actrices Jeanne Moreau et Catherine Deneuve et d’autres signataires du manifeste « des 343 salopes », ainsi que l’avait surnommé le journal Charlie Hebdo.

indéniables, le combat féministe connaît des écueils : la révolution féministe dans son expression radicale a exclu la masculinité et force est de constater que le sexisme, le machisme et les inégalités entre les hommes et les femmes ont la peau dure, notamment en terme d’écart de salaires, qui constitue un « plafond de verre ». Dans les banlieues, le quotidien des femmes n’est guère à envier, entre les humiliations, les viols (les « tournantes »), les excisions et les mariages forcés, ainsi que le rappelle le combat de l’association « Ni putes ni soumises », fondée en 2003 par Fadela Amara, ancienne Secrétaire d’Etat chargée de la Politique de la Ville sous le gouvernement de Nicolas Sarkozy.

Le droit à l’avortement, et par là-même, le droit de disposer de son corps est un acquis de la révolution féministe qui a considérablement contribué à libérer les femmes dans les sociétés démocratiques.

Cette révolution féministe est un long combat qui a traversé les siècles : elle prend ses racines dans le Siècle des Lumières et émerge lors de la Révolution française : de nombreuses femmes marchent sur Versailles pour ramener Louis XVI à Paris, participent à la prise de la Bastille et Olympes de Gouges rédige La Déclaration des droits de la femme et de la citoyenne en 1791. La première vague de cette révolution, de la fin du XIXème siècle à 1945 s’attache aux réformes institutionnelles (droit à l’éducation, au travail, au divorce, droit de vote, droit à la maîtrise de leurs biens) : la juridiction des femmes évolue et peu à peu elles ne sont plus des éternelles mineures qui dépendent de leur époux, de leur père ou encore de leur frère.

A l’heure où nous célébrons la Journée Internationale de la Femme, le combat pour le droit des femmes prend tout son sens dans les pays du Sud. L’actualité déferle chaque jour de mauvaises nouvelles : faibles taux de scolarisation des petites filles, violences conjugales et viols collectifs de nombreuses femmes. L’ONU, mais aussi des ONG et des associations se mobilisent sur place, comme l’association « Toutes à l’école », fondée par la rédactrice en chef du journal MarieClaire, Tina Kieffer, qui aide à la scolarisation des petites filles au Cambodge. L’attribution du prix Nobel de la paix à Malala Yousafzai, rescapée d’un attentat lié à son combat pour le droit à l’éducation, rappelle que le respect des droits des femmes passe avant tout par l’éducation. Des voix se font de plus en plus entendre : en Inde, et précisément à New Delhi, l’affaire du viol collectif d’une jeune étudiante décédée des suites de ses blessures a eu un retentissement international mais aussi national. Pour la première fois, les Indiens, sexes confondus, de la classe moyenne surtout, se sont mobilisés et ont manifesté contre les violences faites aux femmes dans leur pays. Ce changement de l’état d’esprit d’une société entière ne peut se faire que sur un temps long, d’où l’importance du travail des institutions qui oeuvrent pour la condition des femmes.

A la fin des années 1960, la deuxième vague féministe dénonce la domination masculine dans la sphère privée et s’attache à libérer le corps des femmes de cette domination. Cette période charnière, qui s’accompagne d’une forte féminisation du travail, a contribué à bousculer les mentalités et a conduit aujourd’hui les femmes à la tête du pouvoir dans divers secteurs. Pourtant, et en dépit des progrès

Passionnée de littérature et de cinéma, Marie Welsch est responsable culturelle à l’Alliance française des Seychelles depuis maintenant un an. Originaire de la Réunion et ayant mené des études de lettres modernes et de sciences politiques à Aix-en Provence, elle s’intéresse à l’indianité et à l’identité créole des îles de l’Océan Indien et espère plus tard en faire l’objet d’une thèse.

Evènements culturels culturels

Cours de français

Ateliers créatifs

AllianceFrançaise de Victoria Toutes les informations sur les évènements culturels à l’Alliance sur notre site internet www.allianceseychelles.org

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Je suis toujours Charlie !(par Pour être honnêtes avec vous, comme beaucoup d’entre nous j’ai été atterré, assommé, désemparé, triste comme jamais, bouleversé durant cette fameuse journée et les jours qui ont suivi ces attentats parisiens. Actes odieux qui resteront marqués dans la mémoire collective.

Je suis resté toute la journée anéanti devant mon poste de télévision ne pouvant rien faire d’autre !!! Pourtant à mon âge, ce n’était quand même pas la première fois que de tels actes avaient lieu. J’étais même en Allemagne dans les années 1975 quand la « bande à badeer » semait la terreur dans la population. Alors pourquoi tant d’émotions ?? Bien sur, nous connaissions ces dessinateurs qui depuis plusieurs décennies accompagnaient notre quotidien, mais en fait en les tuant sauvagement, ces barbares ont touché quelquechose de fondamental pour le peuple Français : notre liberté. Et notre liberté de penser, de parler, en France c’est sacré. C’est notre moyen d’exister, c’est fondamental a notre vie et a notre survie. Les manifestations monstres qui ont suivi en sont une preuve éclatante. Et j’oserais dire « merci » à ces pauvres gens à la dérive, car au lieu de museler la parole, c’est le contraire qui a eu lieu. 7 millions d’exemplaires de Charlie vendus. Personne au grand jamais n’aurait pu imaginer cela quelques semaines auparavant.

Et au delà de Charlie Hebdo, ses copains refont surface : notre canard enchaîné national, fluide glacial, Hara-kiri, des titres presque inconnus du grand public.

En France, nous avons la culture de l’Humour et de la caricature. Cela fait vraiment parti de notre patrimoine. Déjà sous le règne de Louis 14, ce dernier embauchait des fous du roi qui avaient pour mission de se moquer « gentiment » du monarque et de le faire rire. En fait c’est peut être Louis 14 qui a inventé Charlie Hebdo. Que dire de nos chansonniers un peu passé de mode aujourd’hui mais qui avaient le don d’appuyer sur les boutons de pue des nantis et des politiques. Fernand Raynaud qui déjà dans les années 1960 nous faisait rire avec ces étrangers qui venaient manger le pain des français. Alors, ils l’avaient viré ce sal étranger du village… pas de bol, il était boulanger.

Comment ne pas rendre hommage au grand Thierry Le Luron, a son ami Coluche, aux brillants Desproges et Bedos. Et bien sur plus près de nous toute l’équipe des Guignols. Merci a vous tous pour oser dire tout haut ce que tout le monde pense tout bas. C’est aussi ça la démocratie ! Nous avons besoin de vous. Alors ce n’est pas trois paumés avec leur kalachnikov, même s‘ils réussissent à tuer 17 personnes qui vont faire plier un pays de liberté ou la parole est reine.

Et je dois avouer que j’étais satisfait lorsque presque en direct nous avons suivi la fin des prises d’otages. Satisfaits de les savoir morts ces soi-disant martyrs. Au moins, ils ne couteront plus d’argent à la société. Et je souriais en pensant à ces trois illuminés, sourire aux lèvres débarquant devant leur Dieu. Bonjour Allah, c’est nous les martyrs de Paris. Et Dieu leur répondant la larme a l’œil, comme la couve de Charlie Hebdo….. Pauvres imbéciles, je vous pardonne, car vous avez été tellement manipulés mais jamais au grand jamais, un dieu a demandé a ces fidèles de tuer en son nom. Je

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ne suis qu’amour !!! J’espère pour eux que dans leur religion, ils croient a la réincarnation, sinon ils sont bien dans le pétrin !

Et puis ce fut le ras de marrée, un peu comme a la libération de Paris. Dans chaque ville, dans chaque village les gens sont sortis dans la rue. Du jamais vu, des millions de personnes ensemble, juste pour être ensemble. Des millions de personnes de toutes races, de toutes origines, des noirs, des juifs, des arabes, des blancs, l’arc en ciel de la race humaine. Oublié nos différences, nos prises de becs, nos partis politique… d’ailleurs nos politique, eux aussi, étaient tous présents et même si cela en a agacer plus d’un (moi le premier) de voir tous ces marchands d’armes, voir même quelques dictateurs défiler au premier rang de la manif, pas de problème, eux aussi avaient le droit de saisir ce moment de rédemption. Car c’est bien de cela qu’il s’agissait. Un véritable moment de grâce, d’union et de fraternité. Cette Manif a soigné nos âmes, pansé nos plaies, atténuer notre chagrin. Cette manif par sa puissante énergie nous a permis de nous retrouver et de regarder demain avec espoir et confiance. Des millions de personnes dehors et pas un accroc, les policiers se faisant même applaudir, comme si nous étions déjà en train de réapprendre à vivre ensemble. Et cela n’aurait étonné personne de voir le fantôme du Grand Charles lancer a la foule : « Paris brisé, Paris outragé, mais Paris libéré » Car c’est bien de cela qu’il s’agissait, nous avions libéré Paris de la sauvagerie et nous venions de faire a la française un magnifique bras d’honneur a ses sauvages !

Et maintenant, trois mois plus tard, que sont devenus ces merveilleux Charlies ! Apres les émotions, c’est bien sur le temps de la réflexion.

De nombreuses personnalités de tout bord

Georges Gravé)

osent s’exprimer comme si ce 11 janvier avaient en quelques sortes libéré la parole. Dominique de Villepin écrivait dans le figaro du 20 janvier « Un espoir est né le 11 janvier. Nous avons besoin du soutien de tout le peuple français, nous avons besoin d’un débat et pas de la seule réponse sécuritaire…. Mais tout ne viendra pas de l’Etat. Il faut que ce fantastique sursaut du 11 janvier se traduise en actes politiques, individuels, associatif. Bref tous ensemble. La guerre, n’importe quel état peut la faire. Nos vraies armes, ce sont nos principes, a condition de les appliquer et d’inventer un autre chemin que celui de l’affrontement. » Oui, car le terrorisme nous tend un piège, il veut nous pousser a la faute, et la faute, c’est la guerre.

Notre intérêt est vraiment d’éviter par tous les moyens l’engrenage de la force. » Merci a nos hommes politiques de l’époque qui ont voté le 9 décembre 1905 la loi de séparation des églises et de l’Etat. Ouf ! Cela ne c’est pas fait en un jour et il en fallait du courage politique pour lutter contre « dieu » c’est je crois a mon humble avis le travail que devrait commencer le monde musulman.

Pas d’amalgame nous dit on, et tout le monde sait bien que les terroristes n’ont rien à voir avec la religion musulmane… Quoi que ! Mais force est de constater que tous se revendiquent toujours de cette religion. « Où sont tes sages, et as-tu encore une sagesse à proposer au

monde ? Où sont tes grands hommes ? Qui sont tes Mandela, qui sont tes Gandhi ? Où sont tes grands penseurs dont les livres devraient être lus dans le monde entier comme au temps où les mathématiciens et les philosophes arabes ou persans faisaient référence de l’Inde à l’Espagne ? » Se demande le philosophe Abdennour Bidar dans cette magnifique « lettre ouverte au monde musulman » que je vous recommande de lire de toute urgence.

Les musulmans ont besoin de retrouver l’essence du message originel. Ils ont besoin d’un nouveau souffle capable de faire en sorte que la foi ne se refroidisse pas en rites pervertis par les hommes. Dans la religion catholique le ménage est commencé depuis bien longtemps et merci au pape Francois de remettre les choses à leur place. Il suffit de voir son dernier discours devant tous les évêques pour ses vœux. Ils en ont tous pris plein la tronche !!!!! (« La curie est appelée a s’améliorer, a toujours s’améliorer et a grandir en communion et sagesse pour réaliser pleinement sa mission. Pourtant comme tout corps humain, elle est exposée aussi aux maladies, aux disfonctionnement, aux infirmités…… Ce sont des maladies et des tentations qui affaiblissent notre service du seigneur. ») Pas d’amalgames, certes et le Coran comme la bible sont des textes sacrés. Respect ! Mais en aucun cas ils ne doivent devenirs des livres politiques, et nous le savons bien, si tous les pouvoirs, spirituels et politiques sont entre les mêmes mains…. Danger ! Et il faut bien l’admettre que beaucoup de pays musulmans sont encore des pays a forte tendance autoritaire. « Tu as choisi de considérer que Mohammed était prophète et roi. Tu as choisi de définir l’islam comme religion politique, sociale, morale, devant régner comme un tyran aussi bien sur

“CES BARBARES ONT TOUCHÉ QUELQUE-CHOSE DE FONDAMENTAL POUR LE PEUPLE FRANÇAIS : NOTRE LIBERTÉ. ET NOTRE LIBERTÉ DE PENSER, DE PARLER, EN FRANCE C’EST SACRÉ. C’EST NOTRE MOYEN D’EXISTER, C’EST FONDAMENTAL A NOTRE VIE ET A NOTRE SURVIE”. l’Etat que sur la vie civile, aussi bien dans la rue et dans la maison qu’à l’intérieur même de chaque conscience. Tu as choisi de croire et d’imposer que l’islam veut dire soumission alors que le Coran lui-même proclame qu’« il n’y a pas de contrainte en religion » (La ikraha fi Dîn).

Tu as fait de son appel à la liberté l’empire de la contrainte ! Comment une civilisation peutelle trahir à ce point son propre texte sacré ?

Je dis qu’il est l’heure, dans la civilisation de l’islam, d’instituer cette liberté spirituelle - la plus sublime et difficile de toutes - à la place de

toutes les lois inventées par des générations de théologiens ! » (Abdennour Bidar) Nous le voyons bien l’après Charlie prendra du temps, et nous avons un énorme travail à faire.

Changer le monde est impossible, alors il faut commencer par changer soi-même. Changer ses habitudes, sortir de sa zone de confort, regarder l’autre avec plus de tolérance et de bienveillance. Tendre la main, partager nos valeurs et accepter les valeurs des autres. Ouvrir son cœur et avoir vraiment cette ferme intention de vouloir vivre ensemble !

A ce sujet, c’est peut être les Seychelles qui nous donne l’exemple à suivre. En effet, pour la seconde année consécutive le gouvernement Seychellois en partenariat avec le National Youth Council ont décidé de promouvoir chaque mois de l’année 2015 une valeur humaine. La première semaine de janvier quelques jours avant les attentats (joli hasard) le Vice Président Danny Faure nous présentait ce merveilleux programme : Values for one, value for all. Demandez le programme : Janvier / Responsability, Fevrier / Tolerance, Mars / Resilience, Avril / Patience, Mai / Discipline, Juin / Unity, Juillet / Respect, Aout / Commitment, Septembre / Peace, Octobre / Determination, Novembre / Gratitude et Decembre /Paix.

Et si on instaurait cela dans nos écoles françaises pour les petits Charlies ?

Allez, tous les Charlies du monde, retroussons nos manches et commençons ensemble à reconstruire un monde dont nous serons fiers.

Maintenant, nous le savons, c’est possible !

Georges Gravé is the Personal Development & Training Manager at the Maia Luxury Resort and Spa

LOC AL OPINION We asked a few key female media representatives to share their opinions on the incident at Charlie Hebdo “The terror attack on Charlie Hebdo is yet another example of how intolerant the world is becoming, despite the fact that more people with different values are migrating to different parts of the world.

This movement of people can lead to unnecessary tensions because individuals do not understand each other’s values.

Instead of integration, you get divided communities where people are wary of each other, thus leading to such acts. No one should die because of their given right to express themselves”.

Lindy Vital, Le Seychellois Hebdo “Freedom of speech is essential for any democracy. Yet with this freedom comes a responsibility. Some speech should be controlled when it poses the potential of endangering other people. We are accountable for views that we express. As much as freedom of speech needs to be

respected and upheld it also needs to be checked on an even playing field. We have the right to express ourselves, but we also have an ethical and moral responsibility to do it wisely”.

Dawn Athanasius, Paradise FM Presenter

you make choices that you know will hurt people, you should expect consequences, whether a slap in the face, or terrible acts of revenge. Free speech is not an exception to morality”.

Srdjana Janosevic, Chief Press Secretary

“I believe in free speech, including the freedom of bigots to speak their minds, because I prefer to know their real feelings, than to be fooled by the fashion of political correctness. While I was horrified by the terrorist attacks on Charlie Hebdo, I did not join in the “Je Suis Charlie” social media campaign because I don’t identify with a magazine that ridicules religions, even if they have the freedom to do it. Free speech is part of your free will, to choose to do good in the world, to behave with respect and tolerance, or to do the things that hurt people and incite hatred. You should have the freedom to make choices, but when

“I am not a fan of Charlie Hebdo the satirist magazine – but I understand the messages being carried by the publication and the questions they raise. In my eyes, Charlie is the journalist, Charlie is the cartoonist, Charlie is the photographer and cameraman fighting to tell the truth, therefore I am Charlie too. Our main weapons of choice are our pen, pencil microphone and camera.

As Charlie we offend and we get ‘unfriend’ often. On a daily basis, dedicated journalists dies a little when he/she is in the absence of press freedom. We fight on Charlies. Lets fight on... R.I.P to all perished Charlies”.

Tessa Henderson, Journalist

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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WITH

BE RNA R D GE ORGE S In the real world of this problem, however, this love-in with the law translates into the following. Nobody will blame you for causing the marriage to break down because of your infidelity. This is a neutral factor.

You will neither lose the rights you would otherwise have in the house, nor will you lose custody of the children. Having got custody of the children, you will get the maintenance they need for their upkeep, subject to the requirements of your ex-husband. He may have a second family too for whom he must care. Since the rule of thumb is to keep the two families in roughly the same position as they were prior to the breakdown, the level of maintenance will be set to achieve this purpose. But, this is not really the problem here because you and your ex have agreed to all that.

The problem is that he has cut the maintenance by 2/3. What can you do?

You will note that I have used the word ‘maintenance’ and not ‘alimony’.

The reason for this is that maintenance is generally used in relation to money paid for children and alimony for an ex-spouse.

“Our law regarding marriage, divorce, custody and maintenance is fair. As a country, we are right up there with the best and most advanced countries in the world.”

My ex-husband and I divorced three years ago following my infidelity. Despite the circumstances, he left me with the house, primary custody of our three children and a more than generous monthly alimony. Six months ago a question of paternity came up and results proved that two out of our three kids are not biologically his. He has decided to cut the alimony to 1/3. The children attend private schools and our lifestyle has always been more than just ‘modest’. This financial change has completely turned our lives upside down. Can I fight him on this?

Gosh, you really do not make things easy for yourself, do you? Here’s my advice: let sleeping dogs lie. Don’t even think of fighting your ex-husband.

You were responsible for the marriage failing. You must have known that the two children weren’t his. You have the house and some alimony. Count your blessings and make do with what you have.

This short advice may appear rough, brutal even, but it is the kindest way of giving it. Sometimes, lawyers are stuck and cannot find any advice to give which will please the client on the other side of their desk. This is one case. And here’s why.

Our law regarding marriage, divorce, custody and maintenance is fair.

As a country, we are right up there with the best and most advanced countries in the world. Our family law is really up to date. Parties are no longer blamed for divorce, irrespective of actual blameworthiness. Courts can transfer matrimonial property from the legal owner to the nonowner following marital breakdown. Shares in jointly-owned property can be adjusted. Custody is granted to one parent or another on the sole basis of what is best for the child. Money and means do not come into it. Maintenance payments seek to put the parties as close as possible in the same position they were prior to the breakdown. In all these things, Seychelles holds its own with the most developed countries. It is a system of which we can be justifiably proud.

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The only reasons that a parent has to pay maintenance for a child are that that child is his or hers, the child is a minor or still undergoing education, or disabled, and that child is not living with him or her. There is no other legal obligation to pay maintenance for a child. There is also no real legal obligation for a person to pay maintenance for another person’s child.

There may be a moral reason for doing so – the children may not have known any other father, the ‘father’ may have treated them as his own and led them to believe that he would always be there for them so that in legal parlance he would be estopped (prevented) from saying otherwise etc. But when push comes to shove there is really no compelling legal reason for forcing a person to maintain a child which is not his, unless he has contractually agreed to do so. In this case it is clear that your ex believed the children to be his and treated them as his, to the extent of paying maintenance for them. It is only when the paternity test proved otherwise that he changed. It cannot be argued that he knew all along and still decided to maintain them. Had that been the case, it might be said that he should not be allowed to decide otherwise now. But, on the facts here, this is not the case. He has clearly withdrawn maintenance for the two children because he feels that you have not been upfront with him. He has a point.

But, what about the children, you may ask? They are innocent. Why should they be punished? Why indeed? But, by the same token, why should somebody who looked after them as a father when he had no legal obligation to do so continue when he realises that he is not their father?

Plus, they must have a biological father somewhere. Unless that person is deceased, abroad, or destitute, he is the person who has the duty in law to maintain his children, not your ex. So, it is to him that you must look for maintenance to support the life to which your children are accustomed.

If he cannot pay, then you will have to face the unhappy prospect of a reduced lifestyle. You cannot count on your ex legally to maintain children who are not his, no matter how terribly that will affect you as a family, or the two children who are not his.

I am sorry, but this is not a case with a happy ending. Rather, it is a case which reminds us of the old legal adage: duralex sed lex – the law is tough, but it’s the law.

Educated at Seychelles College and Cambridge University, Bernard Georges has two Masters Degrees – in the law of divorce and in canon law, the law of the church. He is best known as a lawyer, having been in private practice for over 30 years. Over the past ten years, he has also been a member of the National Assembly. He is currently a part-time lecturer in law at the University of Seychelles, where he teaches Constitutional Law. And, he is a budding writer. He has written and published two novels to date and he promises many more books on history, law and Seychelles.

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SPORTS PERSONALITY

Joanna Houareau so much more than a pretty face.

By Marie-France Watson

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Joanna’s rise to success as an athlete started while she was still quite young by participating in the interschool 29th June sports competitions. Her talents were recognised and she was recruited to join the national team at 12 years of age and soon after she participated in her first Jeux des Iles in 1993. Joanna never lacked motivation in pursuing athletics as she had many great influences within her own neighbourhood at Pascal Village such as her neighbour and relative Vincent Houareau who would always bring her along to his athletics club training sessions at the beach. Alongside Vincent, Joanna also had the late Mervin Pierre who helped groom her into a sprinter at a young age in the Beau Vallon based Athletic Club.

Potpourri January Cover

Potpourri December Cover

For those of you who don’t know, Ms. Houareau was an athlete, one of THE best this country has seen! As a sprinter, she took to the track plenty of times for 100m sprints, 200m sprints and even 400m sprints with the occasional long jump feats to add to her list. Although she also participated in long jump events, Joanna was a sprinter at heart, setting records for all three distances during her career as a sprinter. It is no secret that her 400m and 200m records have yet to be broken. The shorter 100m sprint record that has been held by Joanna for over 15 years was broken in 2014 by aspiring athlete Joanne Lou-Toy. If it took this long to break a 100m record, one can only imagine how long it’s going to take to break the longer distance records.

Two covers where Joanna has assisted on hair and make-up Unconditional support is something she always had from her family, most of it coming from her mother Julie Laporte. Julie’s support was alongside that of members of the public and the athletics federation itself which provided Joanna with great coaches throughout her career; many of the coaches also served as father figures as her own father was not supportive to her.

She was a nationwide star in the sports world, having competed in various competitions, both here in Seychelles and overseas such as: • • • • • •

Jeux des Iles Jeux d’Afrique Francophonie Games World Championship Games World Indor Championship games Olympic Games

The list goes on and on with various regional competitions but her biggest accomplishment was being part of the Olympic games. I asked her how she felt about going to the Olympics and her response was “First and foremost I was overwhelmed, the feelings were something I can’t totally describe as I was very excited at the same time for having the honour to stand and compete against the world’s greatest, the ones you only hear about and see on TV, I had the opportunity to see them face to face, and not only the athletes, but a variety of different sportsmen and women from different sports. To me the Olympics is the best sporting event any sportsman or woman can ever be a part of.”

100m final 29.06.95

As with any athlete, Joanna encountered difficulties that stirred feelings of giving up within her. Being a sprinter is not the easiest thing in the world… the training is relentless and hard, carried out on a daily basis, to maintain and improve the speed. During her school years at polytechnic, she took a break from the sprinting world for a couple of months

All Africa Games 99-100m

IOIG 2003 Mauritius

All Africa Games 99

Joanna and Frankie

IOIG 2003 4x100m relay

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SPORTS PERSONALITY

There’s nothing that makes my day more than being able to see the accomplishments of my fellow independent women, so it’s no surprise that I was completely ecstatic about my sit down with the lovely Ms. Houareau.

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SPORTS PERSONALITY

leading towards exams in order to focus on her studies. Juggling athletics with its intense training, constant travelling to participate in competitions away from home and studying at Post Secondary, as well as trying to build a path to an alternate career was causing a tiresome and stressful life for Joanna. What pushed her to not fully give up was the achievements and milestones she reached as an athlete, the accomplishments and rewards for her hard work fueled her and motivated her into going back.

Unfortunately, Joanna retired from her career as a sprinter in 2008 following a persistent leg injury that was refusing to get better without prolonged rest. “The more I rested to heal my leg, the more time went by and I was getting older so I decided to stop and found myself never going back. I didn’t regret my decision as I had accomplished more than enough during my years as a sprinter.

Sure I missed it, but it was time to move on”. And move on she did, into a new career that filled the void left by retiring from athletics. I’m sure you’d be quick to think she didn’t move too far away, on the contrary, she did. She left the track and moved on to hair brushes and make up brushes; these are now Joanna’s trade tools. Having always had a passion for styling hair, Joanna saw it as the perfect career choice, it’s easy to tell she’s the type of person who lives the life she loves, and loves the life she lives, by putting her energy and time into things that bring her joy.

After retiring from athletics, Joanna went to Australia and enrolled into a three year Hairdressing and Make-Up course in the Melbourne based Sheila Baxter Institute for Hair & Beauty. Upon graduating, she came back to Seychelles to start her new career. She took her childhood passion for styling her sisters’ Emma Hoauareau-Motheé and Janice Houareau whenever they had a special place to go, & turned it into a career! An example of Joanna’s work can be seen on some of Potpourri’s recent covers where she was the make-up artist for the cover model. Quite impressive work if I may say so myself. She is truly a multi-talented individual.

Following in her aunt’s footsteps, Gaelle Dubignon

After two years of being a freelance beautician with establishments such as Ste. Anne Resort and Spa, Marco Pros and Direct Bookings as well as individual clients who are forever loyal to her, Joanna is currently in the process of acquiring her own salon while she still has one hundred percent of her time to spare as she has no children yet. When asked about whether she would like her future sons or daughters to pursue athletics like she did, her answer was “Yes, definitely yes! I feel that the involvement in sports is a very important aspect of a child’s life; even up to adolescence as it helps develop you in various ways. It provides you with a sense of responsibility among other things, this is one of the reasons I’m encouraging my niece Gaelle Dubignon, in the hopes that she might attain the level I did, maybe even be the one to break my two remaining records! And keep things in the family”.

After spending half the time talking about work, I was curious to find out a little more about her lifestyle, and it was no surprise when I learnt that Joanna was truly the down to earth person I had pegged her to be, with a kind heart. Her idea of an ideal ‘fun-time’ is going to the beach, socialising with her family and friends, as well as spending quality time with her boyfriend Hans. Not being an athlete hasn’t changed much in Joanna as she is still to this day anti-smoking and anti-alcohol, which equally means she dislikes people who abuse the two amongst other drugs. She likes to keep to herself, in her own world, away from the constant gossip always going around the grapevine. She also believes in working hard for what you want and appreciating what you have.

Although Joanna has stepped out of the athletic scene, she feels that the youth of today aren’t as dedicated to the cause, that they let too many negative distractions into their lives instead of the good. I couldn’t leave our little tete-a-tete without asking her if she has any words for the few aspiring athletes there to keep them on the right track, her words were: ´To succeed as an athlete you must first and foremost have the mindset to do it on your own without others. It all depends on you as in the end your successes and achievements are all your own”. So there you have it, Joanna Houareau, more than just a pretty face, a role model to all the aspiring female athletes and aspiring beauticians of Seychelles. From tracks, to brushes, she made it.

MINDFUL LIVING

VIEW FROM THE STATION

I GET BY

…with a little help from my friends, says Jenny Gilbert I am absolutely ecstatic right now. The article I am about to embark on has been sitting with me for a few days and I have to say that I felt a little apprehensive about writing about this subject. Just this morning, as I was deliberating about the article again, I found myself inexplicably led to another area of healing which is exactly what I was looking for and I

“[BECAUSE I WAS] LABELLED AS SOMEONE WHO ‘SWIMS WITH THE DOLPHINS’ OR ‘IS AWAY WITH THE FAIRIES’, I OFTEN FELT COMPELLED TO STAND UP FOR WHAT I KNEW MADE ME FEEL WHOLE, ALIVE AND CONNECTED TO A WIDER UNIVERSE.” didn’t have to do anything at all! Co-incidence? Luck? Maybe for some.

However, I know that I will always get what I want when I’m willing to open up to the help that is just waiting for me. It’s being offered all the time; I am never alone and I wonder why – especially since I work in this field – I don’t call on it more regularly. One thing is for sure: the more I apply what I know in a practical way, using it in my ordinary daily routine, the more I am blessed with beautiful results.

Today my experience is no exception; simply deciding to brave it and write about angels was enough to call on whatever angel took me to a place of incredible enlightenment. More on what I discovered will follow in a future article but for now let me honour the angels for guiding me to this place by sharing my view on these light bearing, loving entities with you.

Since childhood, and for many years, I felt that I had to defend myself against derisive comments and ridicule from those who considered me to be slightly crazy or, worse, unintelligent. Often labelled as someone who ‘swims with the dolphins’ or ‘is away with the fairies’, I often felt compelled to stand up for what I knew made me feel whole, alive and connected to a wider universe.

With maturity, and a steadfast commitment to helping to heal the planet (and myself ), I no longer worry about what others think because I realise that I never doubted myself at all. Every day, in some small or magnificent way, I am better and better and closer to living a life as a worthy individual, connecting more and more with a truth far greater than anything I ever learnt in an established, conventional institution.

I have learnt that the more I give, the more I open up, the more I free myself of judgment, the more I am willing to stand up for my principles and the more I am willing to be guided by universal intelligence, the more my self-worth develops, the more at peace I am, the younger I feel, the more vibrant I get.

So it is no surprise that this year’s programme of articles is also a means by which I can share some thoughts on subjects which are very much intrinsically healing for humanity and you, the readers. I do not necessarily have a deep knowledge of all of these subjects myself but by sharing my time I get to stay in touch with tangible, real truths and get the chance to tweak your interest and set some of you on a path of enquiry.

Just for today I hope you’ll set aside the ‘critic’ inside, that you’ll open your

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mind to the possibilities that exist for you to be more ‘wholy’. I know that the Universe is magnificently generous, non-judgmental and impeccably true, that its intelligence is irrefutable and, most importantly, that it is just waiting to embrace you so that you can free yourself to be one with it.

There are countless ways in which you can start connecting with universal energy to claim your place as the intelligent, incredible individual that you are. For a moment, perhaps you could suspend your disbelief and know that you have nothing to lose by doing so.

Let’s visit the Angelic Realm. Angels have existed forever. They are innumerable. Angels can be considered to be transformers of light to sound, carrying messages to and from heaven (or The Divine/The Source/ Universal Energy/God) in a language that us humans can understand.

There are enough men and women who spend entire lifetimes studying the history of these celestial beings and it must be fascinating. The good news is that we don’t have to study Dante’s Angelology to invite angels into our lives. I believe that there is an infinite pool of wisdom available to us, and to lock ourselves up in theory and conjecture about their existence is somewhat futile when there is enough evidence throughout history to suggest that angels (whether metaphoric or not) surround us.

I like to see angels as my higher consciousness gurus. I believe that if we affirm, in total integrity with ourselves, who and what we are and hope to be, and when we are willing and open to being directed by an angelic intelligence to guide us towards achieving goodness and ‘wholiness’ (wholesomeness if you like), avenues will be opened to us that we cannot ‘intellectually’ fathom. There is nothing that can harm us in believing that we are surrounded by these higher consciousness gurus or angels – they are there to protect us from calamity and to serve our higher purpose. We will not be punished for reaching out and widening our experience of the universe – no matter who suggests that we will. Remember always that God (or whatever you choose name him/it) is ever loving and allows us total freedom to honour our life’s purpose. If our intentions are good and our hearts are loving, we are safe. Know that all religion stems from this loving energy.

“WITH MATURITY, AND A STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO HELPING TO HEAL THE PLANET (AND MYSELF), I NO LONGER WORRY ABOUT WHAT OTHERS THINK BECAUSE I REALISE THAT I NEVER DOUBTED MYSELF AT ALL.” While it is believed that each of us has our own personal guardian angel, most religions and traditions discuss archangels as the managers of our personal guardian angels. It is understood that the archangels are specialised in various areas and that they guide and provide superintelligence to us through our personal angels. As an example of an Archangel, let’s look at the patron saint of protection, Archangel Michael. Lending courage and strength in times of strife and major life changes, Michael is believed to have intimate knowledge of our Divine life purpose. He knows our mission and understands our talents and interests so that we may help others. While Archangel Michael protects us, he also provides us with clarity. When we are confused, he will ensure we receive clear answers to our questions. As a non-denominational angel, Archangel Michael is there for us in every way if we simply ask. His

I suppose it is easier to envisage angels with form and character which is probably why these angels have, over time immemorial, developed personas. Archangel Michael is depicted as a tall, handsome man carrying a sword which, it is said, he uses to slay our fear and heighten our courage and strength to face challenges.

There are many accounts throughout history of when Michael has been called upon by inspired leaders and light workers. From the time of Adam and Eve when Michael is known to have guided Adam to farm and care for his family, Michael has been guiding legendary individuals such as Joan of Arc and others to perform incredible acts of courage in order to fulfil their passion to help others.

Just today, know that you are being watched over with love, and nurturing care. Take a deep breath and allow your guides to surround you and lead you to a place of calm and serenity, clarity and new experiences. If this is difficult for you, consider Lady Luck as an angel. Create a picture in your mind and imagine that this angel, called Lady Luck, is watching over you, ready and happy to whisper words of wisdom. Start to develop a relationship with her and she’ll introduce you to her friends. Consciously start the process of inviting in these happy, healing, loving energies to your space and you may just find yourself starting to live the life you are meant to.

Jenny Gilbert is the founder and owner of Everglow Ltd, the island’s premier natural health manufacturers and service providers. She is also Director of Wellness at Resonate Wellness at The Station. Homeopathy is a well recognised system of natural medical treatments for most diseases and conditions. Please visit http://www.thestationseychelles.com/reflections or email wellbeing@ thestationseychelles.com

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MINDFUL LIVING

help and guidance is unlimited, non-judgemental and respects our free will. His guidance is completely safe and trustworthy. A better friend is hard to imagine!

AGONY AUNT

Dear Annalisa ......

Cursing and forgetfulness are issues that Annalisa helps our readers solve this month…

Foul Mouthed Parenting

Forget my birthday-not

Q: Dear Annalisa,

Q: Dear Annalisa,

Recently, I find myself swearing at my 7-year old. I have never been known to curse and it shocks me that I am unable to control my anger.

My child is driving me insane and I am now dropping bombs left, right and centre. How do I stop this?

Potty-Mouth Mummy

I forgot my best friend’s birthday a few months back – the first time in 23 years! We laughed it off but I get the feeling she is still upset about it. She ‘forgets’ to invite me to girls’ nights out and a week ago forgot to tell me she was travelling. This is someone I used to speak to almost everyday – including the birthday I forgot. I need us to move past this.

What’s step one?

Louise, 39

A: Dear Potty-Mouth Mummy, It seems the swearing and cursing has become a way of dealing with your child’s testing ways. The only problem is that this method is neither effective nor healthy (for either of you). Children don’t only learn skills that make them more mature and successful in life. They also learn skills that make them troublesome. Your child has learnt that they can behave in a way that elicits feelings of anger from you. Your child has learnt that they have the power to spin you out of control. More importantly your child is learning that swearing is an “ok” behaviour when angry.

The first thing to do, is to find alternative methods of responding to your child’s troublesome behaviour. Most children thrive on attention; it makes them feel important, loved and popular. Young children favour any behaviour that gets them frequent attention. So a “naughty” behavior that delivers a swear word is a behaviour worthy to pursue because it delivered the much-needed attention.

If you feel irritated by your child’s behaviour and believe that they are doing it deliberately to seek attention in a negative way, it may be best not to give them the attention they are after. The trick to reduce the likelihood of the “naughty” behaviour occurring is to withdraw attention from it. Simply ignore, and ignore all the time. Note here: aggressive, dangerous, or destructive behaviour, should never be ignored, at any time.

Some guidelines for ignoring behavior: • Choose one behaviour that is annoying or irritating, at a time.

• Every time this behaviour occurs, everyone significant to the child, should ignore the behaviour.

• Avoid eye contact with your child.

• Avoid verbal contact with your child.

• Avoid physical contact with your child.

• Stop ignoring your child, as soon as the undesirable behaviour stops.

• Expect the behavior to get worse before it gets better.

• Ensure that any behaviour that is unlike the undesirable behaviour is rewarded.

The other thing to do is get a jar and for every time you swear, put a SR5 coin (or more) in there. It would mean a cost to you, for swearing around the house. The money should eventually go to another person around the house (not your child) who has to live in this constant “bombdropping” environment (given they are not swearing either). Be honest and pay up each time, that in itself should deter you from running a potty-mouth (unless you cheat).

A: Dear Louise, To forget your best friend’s birthday, is BIG! And to not forgive a best friend, for it, that’s BIG too. Now which is bigger, tends to depend on which side anyone is on.

I’m guessing step one might require a bit of backtracking to as far back as the day you realised you had forgotten her birthday. Did you apologise? What did you do then? Moments like these, call for empathy - putting yourself in the other person’s shoes. How would you have felt? What would you have liked your friend to do if the situation was reversed? Bearing in mind, even best friends may have different takes on the matter.

“IF YOU FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER TRUE FEELINGS THE FIRST TIME ROUND THEN CREATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO NOW.” Sometimes when important things happen between friends, things that may cause pain, hurt, or disappointment we are eager to “laugh it off”.

The “laugh it off” is sometimes done to make light of a difficult situation; not knowing how to deal with the situation from both ends; fear of coming across as selfish or greedy may cause the affected person to play along; not knowing how to deal with the affected person’s reaction.

These are all possibilities why humor or laughter is sometimes used to try and remedy an awkward situation.

Now it’s all-good if the affected person is genuine about seeing only the funny side of the whole situation. If you gather, she’s not really laughing, then step two would be to talk to her about it. If you failed to acknowledge her true feeling the first time round then create the opportunity to do so now. It’s also a moment to share your own true feelings about the situation and your fear of its consequences on your friendship.

Step three (optional): throw her a “sorry I forgot your birthday for the first time in 23 years, please forgive me” party. It can be the simplest party for two; two cupcakes, one balloon, and a big sorry sign; just be genuine and do it from the heart. Hopefully it wins her over. All in all, I wish for this friendship, a lot less forgetting and a lot more forgiving.

Annalisa Labiche is a practicing Clinical Psychologist with over five years experience. She completed her Bachelor of Art (Psychology) degree and Masters in Psychology in Australia. She gives advice on a multitude of subjects, including relationships, parenting, family issues, psychological disorders, substance misuse amongst many others.

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HEALTH

La trisomie 21 ou Syndrome de Down. contenues dans le liquide amniotique ou le placenta. Le prélèvement, appelé amniocentèse ou biopsie du trophoblaste, n’est pas sans risque (risque de fausse couche). Ce prélèvement qui n’est pas disponible aux Seychelles, est proposé uniquement si le fœtus a des risques élevés d’être atteint de Trisomie 21.

Après la naissance, l’existence de la trisomie peut être suspectée et nécessite alors la réalisation de l’étude des chromosomes de l’individu.

Le 21 Mars est la journée mondiale du syndrome de down, je profite alors de ce numéro spécial de Potpourri pour parler un peu plus de ce syndrome.

Quelles sont les origines de la trisomie 21 ?

Dans chaque cellule du corps humain, il existe un noyau. A l’intérieur de celui-ci se retrouve des gènes .Un gène est une petite portion d’ADN, support de l’information génétique de l’individu. Les gènes portent les codes responsables de nos caractères héréditaires, et sont regroupés dans des structures appelées chromosomes.

Classiquement, le noyau de chaque cellule chez l’être humain contient 23 paires de chromosomes, 23 venant du père et 23 de la mère. Le syndrome de Down apparait lorsqu’un individu se retrouve avec une copie partielle ou complète du chromosome 21. La personne atteinte a un chromosome surnuméraire sur la 21e paire de chromosomes. Elle ne possède donc pas 46 chromosomes, mais en possède 47.

Il existe différentes formes de trisomie 21.

C’est au moment de la formation des ovules ou des spermatozoïdes, avant la fécondation que se produit “ l’incident génétique “ responsable dans 95% des cas de la trisomie 21.

• Si toutes les cellules de l’organisme ont 47 chromosomes, on

parle de trisomie 21 homogène.

• On parle de trisomie 21 en mosaïque, lorsque seule une partie

des cellules est touchées.

Dans 5% des cas, c’est une trisomie par translocation. Le chromosome supplémentaire est dans ce cas attache a un autre chromosome.

Quels sont les facteurs de risques ?

La trisomie 21 touche toutes les populations. L’origine ethnique ou le niveau économique ne sont pas des facteurs de risques.

En dehors de la présence d’une anomalie des chromosomes équilibrée impliquant un chromosome 21, le seul facteur de risque connu est l’âge maternel au moment de la fécondation. Le risque d’avoir un enfant avec une trisomie 21 est en effet de : • • • • •

1/1500 naissances si la mère a 20 ans 1/1000 à 30 ans 1/400 à 35 ans 1/100 à 40 ans 1/28 à 50 ans

Comment fait-on le diagnostic ?

Comment savoir s’il existe un risque élevé ?

Des tests sanguins effectués chez la maman, permettent de faire un calcul du risque. Ce test n’est pas disponible aux Seychelles.

Aux résultats sanguins sont combinés l’âge de la patiente et la mesure de la nuque du fœtus (clarté nucale). Cette mesure est réalisée lors de l’échographie du premier trimestre. En effet, les fœtus dont la nuque est plus épaisse que la norme sont plus à risque de trisomie 21.

Quelles sont les conséquences de la trisomie 21 ?

Il en existe plusieurs, voici les plus fréquentes : • Une déficience intellectuelle variable, avec des possibilités

d’intégration sociale différentes selon les enfants. Cela

n’excluant pas une autonomie relative des personnes

atteintes de trisomie 21. D’où le rôle primordial de l’éducation,

et de l’accompagnement de ces enfants des leur plus jeune âge.

• Un aspect caractéristique du visage (qui n’empêche pas a ces

enfants de ressembler a leurs parents).

• Une taille ne dépassant pas 160 cm à l’âge adulte.

• Une diminution du tonus musculaire (hypotonie) et une hyperlaxité.

• Des malformations d’importance variable le plus souvent

du cœur ou de l’appareil digestif, pouvant bénéficier de soins spécifiques.

• Des troubles ORL, de la vue ou de l’audition…

Quel suivi pour les personnes atteintes ?

La prise en charge des problèmes spécifiques rencontrés dans la trisomie 21 doit toujours être conduite dans l’objectif de permettre une meilleure insertion sociale et professionnelle.

Beaucoup de symptômes classiquement décrits dans la trisomie 21, sont secondaires à l’hypotonie et à l’hyperlaxité et peuvent être bien améliorés par la prise en charge précoce en psychomotricité, kinésithérapie et orthophonie. Il doit y avoir une mise en place dès le plus jeune âge d’un partenariat entre les parents et les professionnels de l’éducation, du soin et de la rééducation joue un rôle primordial.

Cela permet également d’accompagner les parents et leur permettent de mieux comprendre leur fils ou leur fille.

Il n’y a pas de traitement médical de ce syndrome.

C’est grâce à la meilleure prise en charge des problèmes médicaux et notamment au traitement des malformations cardiaques et des infections que l’espérance de vie des personnes avec une trisomie 21 a beaucoup augmenté puisque plus de 50% dépassent l’âge de 50 ans aujourd’hui.

Pour plus d’informations n’hésitez pas à contacter le professionnel de santé qui vous suit.

Avant la naissance, il est possible de diagnostiquer une trisomie 21 chez un fœtus pendant la grossesse. Mais uniquement par des tests qui permettent de prélever des cellules du fœtus. Ces cellules sont

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38

PARENTING

Juggling Motherhood AND CAREER Working moms have a lot on the go, but being realistic and having a sense of humour makes all the difference, writes Nathalie Hodgson.

Most women this millennium are returning to work when their children are still very young, without being questioned or judged. With the cost of living on the rise, two incomes is what is required to keep a decent family household or to maintain the lifestyle you once led but with additional mouths to feed. So how do you balance work, love and play when no one has the time? I spoke to two working mothers to share some valuable tips on how it’s done.

Neesha Kumar, 30, Creative Director, decided to extend her three-month maternity leave, dip into her annual leave bonus and eventually resigned, after having her first child. ‘I would rather die than leave my little one so young’, she thought to herself. But after six months she realised that this

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was not financially viable; she had to return to work and decided to take up a position that she been offered some time back. Returning to work not only helped to pay the bills but it opened up new doors of valuable experience, which has led her into opening up her own business (Neesha Kumar Ltd).

‘The to-do list is so long that I am overwhelmed just looking at it’ Neesha explains, ‘I am mentally racing back and forth between my responsibility to my two children (six-year old girl and one-year old boy) and my business. I can’t take sick days as this means I don’t get paid for that day and the work is then a day late. There are simply not enough hours in the day to accomplish what needs to get done, so I am often up until 2am or later’.

PARENTING

It is the ultimate juggling act; the pressure on working mothers and fathers with full-time careers and young children leads to a constantly racing heart, all-consuming guilt and a certainty that you’ve become inadequate at home and at work when things go slightly wrong. So the key is to place some logical strategies as pillars into your daily life to keep the walls from caving in.

Being a great mom isn’t about making every meal or doing every load of laundry. It’s also about being a strong female role model for your children; the two are strongly interweaved. An essential part of being a great mom is pursuing your own passions and being an interesting, dynamic, growing person that your children have as an example.

‘Honestly my work-life balance needs some improvement’ Neesha confesses. There is no quality weekday family evening time, as I am working solidly to build my young business. I am blessed with a husband that fully supports and understands this critical stage. I do force myself to take some downtime when I have been multi-tasking all day however and I do not work on Sundays (at all). This is strictly family time. I cook and spend time with my loved ones’ Neesha explains.

Alice Mancienne, 25 years, Staff Nurse at The Seychelles Hospital and studying an Advanced Diploma in Midwifery at NIHSS, remembers her first day back at work after having her daughter. ‘I fought back tears and kept calling home to check up on her every second, it felt awful, even though I knew she was in good hands with my grandmother. The only thing that kept me going was picturing that little face when she would see me again.

This kept me sane and motivated’.

Alice always wanted to be a mother and always wanted to be a nurse, a job she loves. ‘I am living my dream, I know this, but every day is not picture perfect. I work shifts and my day includes dressing wounds, preparing patients for operation, admission, withdrawing blood, doctor’s rounds, administering medication, providing support and giving reassurance. Then it’s time to go home and I do some laundry, cleaning, preparing meals, feeding the dogs and spending time with my partner

and daughter (feeding, bathing, playing, stories). It’s just manageable really. I have a lot of motivation as my patients offer me many kind words and letters and of course the support I receive around me from my partner, family and friends’.

Being a great mom isn’t about making every meal or doing every load of laundry. It’s also about being a strong female role model for your children; the two are strongly interweaved. An essential part of being a great mom is pursuing your own passions and being an interesting, dynamic, growing person that your children have as an example. You want to raise strong individuals and they need to see that in their adult figures every day of their lives.

Alice continues, ‘even after the most hectic and stressful day at work, the duties don’t stop. There is no law that says that you have to make all your meals from scratch, clean your own house from top-to-bottom every week. I make lists about what needs to be done and cut corners on things that really don’t matter, so I have more time to spend with my family. They are my priority and I always make time for them. I know my career and my studies are important too and hopefully one day my daughter will be proud of her hard working mum’.

No matter how great your job, your boss, your partner and your kids may be, it’s your number one job to take care of yourself. This is one job you simply can’t delegate. Without your own health you are no service to your family or your job so make sure you are ticking those boxes in diet, exercise, check-ups and some personal hobbies (for your own mental growth and happiness).

While interviewing and talking to many working mums the one ultimate secret that is constant in the working mums power kit is to always keep your sense of humour. When dirty nappies fall at your feet, the babies are screaming in the bath and you know dinner is about to burn, humour is the ultimate weapon against the craziness around you, and the one thing that will keep you sane.

Nathalie Hodgson is a writer, mother, PR & Marketing consultant, Doterra essential oils consultant and yoga instructor, juggling this whilst raising two kids, running her own business and enjoying the most of life.

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Generation Procrastination

Why not today?

What makes us put things off instead of just getting them done? Lynette Botha doesn’t have all the answers, but she’s working on it…

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I put the ‘pro’ into procrastination. This is not to say I’m lazy, or not a hard worker. Au contraire.

I am a workaholic – always hustling for more jobs on the side; mostly out of want than necessity (for the time being). But man can I put things off – until the pressure is so forceful and the deadline is so far gone, that I have to pull an all-nighter to catch up. And this is not only with work. This happens with renewing car licence disks, taking in the dry cleaning, going for a haircut. I once read a star sign that referred to Librans as ‘lackadaisical’ – and I was like, “there, you see, it’s not my fault, it’s the way the stars aligned when I was born. Now I’m off the hook”. If only.

This feature first appeared in Juice Magazine, January 2015

"If you, like me, would like to be a little less anxious and a little more proactive this year, take note."

Truth is, it’s hundred percent me. And you. And like any other bad habit, it’s something that takes time and commitment to rectify.

Ironically.

open in separate tabs is like asking for trouble and setting yourself up for failure. When you need to do something, tell yourself: I’m sitting down for an hour and solely focusing on this. When you decide to switch off and focus, you’ll be amazed at how much you can achieve in a short space of time – you may get so into it that you carry on for longer than the time you assigned yourself. You’ll also find that you really did not miss that much on social media. Maybe just another pregnancy announcement.

Be prepared

When you’re ready to get started on your task – renewing your driver’s licence, for example – make sure you have everything you need. Your old licence, ID book, photos, the correct amount of money in cash.

Starting out on a task and getting halfway because you don’t have all the tools at your disposal will take the wind out of your sails – and you’ll probably put it off for another two weeks because you just. can’t. face. all. the. admin.

Procrastination is a real syndrome though – it’s not just you ‘putting things off’, some people suffer from it to a point where it can be debilitating. So it’s no surprise then that countless psychological studies have been done to not only understand why people procrastinate and what triggers it, but also, what you can do in order to re-train your brain to want to get things done.

If you, like me, would like to be a little less anxious and a little more proactive this year, take note of the following (don’t worry, I’ll keep it short, I know you’d rather be playing Candy Crush):

Just Start

Yes, this sounds pretty basic, but once you’ve started on a task – even if you do not complete it immediately – you are more likely to finish it (and sooner) than if you don’t start at all. Need to file a report by Friday? Start the Excel spreadsheet on Tuesday – even if you only create the columns and headers. You’ll probably make your end of week deadline. This is due to something that psychologists call the Zeigarnick Effect. In a nutshell, assignments that are unfinished are more likely to nag at you and remain top of mind, than tasks that you never started at all. Because it’s constantly on your mind, it becomes irritating and makes you anxious and you just want to get it done.

Believe in yourself

Yes, really. Often procrastination stems from self doubt – a fear of failure or a feeling of not being good enough. You’re so scared that you’ll do something incorrectly or not well enough, that you never get started on it in the first place. You’ve committed to organising a bachelorette party for your best friend but you’re so anxious that everything won’t turn out perfectly that two weeks before the event you still haven’t even sent out invitations, nevermind secured a venue. The longer you put these types of tasks off, the worse it gets.

You become more anxious, more deflated, and less likely to want to get started. Stop doubting yourself, believe you can do what needs to be done and challenge yourself to prove it by starting work on it immediately.

Make a list

If you’re anything like me, you may be great at writing a list, but not so great at doing anything with it once it’s written. But writing lists is scientifically proven to make us more likely to do things (and to feel less anxious by getting things out of our heads – where they can be forgotten, and on to paper – which you hopefully don’t lose). A list does not literally need to be a piece of paper with bullet points – it can be any form of you getting what you need to accomplish out of your head; this may be in your diary, on your iPad or via an App. The one form that I find works for me, is electronic calendar reminders, set for days leading up to a certain task or assignment – it’s like building in time to allow yourself to procrastinate.

Turn off your WiFi

And your cellphone. And your social media notifications. Move away from the TV. Keep distractions to an absolute minimum. Sitting down to complete a task with Facebook, Twitter and YouTube

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HEALTH & FITNESS

THE SOLDIER

OF MISFORTUNE

Are you brave enough for this intense workout? Hassan Al-Ameri is here to guide you through it…

Here is an example of a training session you could try, if you’re feeling really brave and in the mood for something that will push you both mentally and physically. It’s certainly not for complete beginners, and is also designed for those who prefer to train with a partner.

I call it the “Soldier of Misfortune” as it’s based on a training principle that was applied to our training sessions whilst I was serving in the army. I still feel that this standard is by far one of the most important to consider when designing a training program for yourself or anyone else.

And remember; never sacrifice one element of fitness in pursuit of another!

THE WARM-UP 3 x 5 3 x 15 3 x 10 2 x 10 2 x 10

wall squats (toes against a wall) bodyweight squats goblet squats push-ups proper push-ups (lie flat and take hands off the floor between each push-up) 10 x 5 man makers (push-up on dumbbells, row each side, feet in, stand, shoulder press)

THE MAIN BODY (PARTNER WORKOUT) Complete three rounds of the following with one minute’s rest between each round: 250m row whilst partner performs a rack hold (24kg men/16kg women) Then switch to complete the round.

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THE COOL-DOWN 4 X 30secs on/30secs off 4 X 30secs on/30secs off

4 X 30secs on/30secs off 300 seconds total

FROG HOP PUSH PRESS (hell style) (rest with weights above your head!)

SPLIT JUMP FRONT LEANING REST (high plank) (stop the clock when you need to rest)

Do not be fooled; this is a muscle-aching lung-busting workout – not for the faint-hearted. Get in touch with me and let me know how you found it.

Until next time…

Yours in Health & Fitness, Hassan

Hassan is a Master Trainer from the European Institute of Fitness, living on Mahé. For any further advice on health and fitness, you can contact Hassan directly on: Tel: +248 2568629 Email: h.al-ameri@hotmail.co.uk

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CONSERVATION

RIDING FOR THE PLANET…

AND YOUR HEALTH! Save money, improve your fitness and do your bit for the environment Photographs: Joe Clothilde

Can riding a bike save the planet, and you? Experts say that cycling could help resolve many environmental and health problems. It just needs to ‘catch on’, and become the next green and fashionable thing to do.

Contraptions on wheels are the most popular form of transport over land for most people. Amid an array of cars, trucks, vans and jeeps, the simple and modest bicycle tops the list for the healthiest, wheeled mode of transport, for you and for our planet. Why not ride bikes to help the environment, save on gas, generate less greenhouse gases and burn more calories, all at the same time?

Cycling is a low-carbon, eco-friendly mode of transport. Car exhausts are a cocktail of all types of cancer-causing and global-warming-inducing gases that include carbon dioxide, sulphur oxides, methane and other particulates. Bikes have no exhaust system; they are solely powered by your strength. Subsequently, riding a bike produces zero emissions, which equates to zero air pollution and less incidences of throat and lung cancer caused by the particles that contribute to air pollution. By the same token, working those muscles to power the bike forward will increase your metabolism and help you burn calories up at a rapid pace. Not only that, pedalling away on a bike helps to keep your heart healthy (and pumping).

Parking lots are also a problem for the environment, especially with the increasing number of motorised vehicles on the road. This means clearing more land for parking that was once home to plant and animal life. The asphalt, tars and other chemicals poured to make parking lots and roads also release pollutants into the air and create heat islands that contribute to global warming. The removal of trees and other vegetation eliminates vital biomass that helps reduce the quantity of carbon dioxide in the air. Bicycle parking requires little space, which means that bikes help minimise the effects of global warming and also preserve habitats.

While you ‘ride for the planet’...and for yourself, remember to always keep safe. Here are a few reminders from one of our previous articles on safe bike riding: • •

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Avoid busy streets Wear a helmet

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• Wear brightly coloured clothes to increase your visibility • Follow the rules of the road • No music players or mobile phones to distract you or inhibit your hearing Last but not least, while most bike riding on Mahé or Praslin is done for sports or for recreation more than for commuting, we should tip our hats to our brothers and sisters over on La Digue, who use bicycles as an everyday mode of transport, and serve as inspiring role models – and that’s the kind of biking enthusiasm we want to spread.

Contributed by Ginnie Laurencine for Sustainability for Seychelles, a local NGO whose mission is to promote sustainable living in Seychelles. Contact us on info@ s4seychelles.com or tel. 251-9135 or 422-4072. Find us on the web at www.s4seychelles.com or on Facebook.

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DINING

Le Bourgeois Restaurant at Le Méridien Fisherman’s Cove

R E S TA U R A N T R E V I E W

Divine dining is how Vee Mari Power sums up her experience at this picturesque spot Le Bourgeois Restaurant kicks off the year 2015 with an exclusively seafood menu created by the artful genius of Executive Chef Anthony Robin who specializes in Fusion Cuisine.

“We are excited to re-launch Le Bourgeois as the seafood restaurant on the island, unique menu which is affordable with good portions and an excellent variety complements the location and personalized service” quotes Wael Rashed – the General Manager of Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove.

Dining at this sensational restaurant is guaranteed to satisfy even the most adventurous taste buds.

Stroll along the floor lit decking from Le Méridien Hotel that meanders along the coast line of Bel Ombre and enjoy the gentle breeze that blows in from the North of the island, until you stumble upon this secluded eatery. This is a dinner-byreservation-only type of establishment, with a cozy seating arrangement to ensure a private fine dining experience.

The À la carte menu offers a fantastic array of locally sourced delicacies that will stimulate your appetite. We recommend the generously portioned appetizer of crab nachos or the crispy calamari with black olive tartar.

For the main there is a tempting selection of seafood risottos and pastas that will no doubt leave you sighing with satisfaction.

We were drawn to the star of the show, the Asian Spiced Grilled Lobster with truffle mash, grilled asparagus and orange-carrot sauce. The rich and aromatic flavours of the spiced lobster are matched perfectly by the creamy truffle mash.

Dessert at Le Bourgeois is a must! You will be hard-pressed to choose between options of Chocolate Teardrop to homemade caramel ice-cream with peanuts, popcorn and chocolate sauce.

We enjoyed the warm chocolate-walnut brownie with homemade vanilla ice-cream and blueberry compote. It is the perfect balance of sweet and savoury and beautifully presented as a treat for the eyes, as well as your sweet tooth.

Everything about this dining experience suggests attention to detail and pure luxury, from the location, and the delectable menu to the impeccable table service. There is also a wonderful list of wines and suggestions from the house sommelier for each course so you can be sure to fully experience the sensory delights of every part of your meal.

“At last we have a true sea food restaurant at Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove, unlocking a new culinary experience to our guests locally and globally” quotes the General Manager.

If you would like to share the same culinary experience, discover more at http://www.lebourgeois.sc

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A tale about St Patrick

Do you know where this day originates from and why we celebrate it? Read on…

St. Patrick was born in South Wales, his father was a Roman called Calpornius. When he was about 16 years old he was taken by Irish raiders led by the infamous “Niall of the nine hostages”. They took him to Ireland to a place called Mount Slemish near the present town of Ballymena.

There, he worked as a slave for six years. During this time he had several dreams where God told him he must escape from Ireland and become a priest. He walked 200 miles to the coast where he escaped to Scotland, returning home, and eventually going to France where he became a priest and then a Bishop. He was Bishop of Auxerre in France for 12 years. He was haunted by dreams of the people of Ireland calling him to return and bring Christianity to Ireland which was, at the time, a pagan land. In 432AD Pope Celestine decided to send him on a mission to convert the Irish to Christianity. St Patrick arrived in Ireland in the winter of 432AD.

Christian faith later on. So if you are a Christian today with some lineage to Ireland, you may well owe a debt to St. Patrick himself.

He died on March 17th 493AD and was buried in a place called Down Patrick.

In recent years, St. Patrick’s Day has been celebrated at the Level 3 Bar in Seychelles. On St Patrick’s Day 2014, Level 3 Bar was renamed “Rogan’s Irish Bar”, making it the first Irish Bar in Seychelles.

This year St Patrick’s Day will fall on Tuesday 17th March.

You will find all the traditional celebrations at Rogan’s Irish Bar.

A VERY HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY TO YOU ALL! SLÁINTE! (GOOD HEALTH)

Many stories have been told about what happened next.

He converted the whole of Ireland in around 30 years. He is responsible for the 29th of February being a day when the ladies can propose marriage. This was to help speed up wedding proposals in cases where the men might be a bit slow or shy. He used the Shamrock, a three-leaf plant of the clover family, to help explain the trinity to his flock. His converts became the new stronghold of Christianity in Europe, and Ireland shone the light of the Christian faith throughout the dark ages in Europe, and sent missionaries to return the

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OCCASIONS 51

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OCCASIONS

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OCCASIONS 53

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OCCASIONS

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WEDDINGS IN PARADISE 55

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WEDDINGS IN PARADISE

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POP CULTURE

Big Booties and Cash Cows The Undeniable Influence of Kim Kardashian...

By Kurt Gilbert As a full-time fan of Kanye West, I’ve had to put up with my fair share of Kim Kardashian-related news over the past couple of years. Admittedly, before Kimye was a ‘thing’, I paid very little attention to the camera-hungry stylings that placed Kim on the A-List of celebrity culture. I had the same fundemental problem with her that so many other people do; I couldn’t reconcile the fact that she’s made silly amounts of money by airing her dead-end, first world ‘problems’ on TV, while far more important issues are crammed into a four minute slot on late-night news. That’s the case in America, at least.

What’s important to note at this point is that I’ll never ride a bandwagon purely because everyone else is on it, and neither should you. I’ve learnt to question everything in order to create an informed and justifiable opinion on whatever I may be talking about, and Kim Kardashian is no exception.

For that very reason, I decided to take a deeper look into the life and times

“Granted, her field is pretty much defined by being in the right place, wearing the right clothes, and laughing at the right jokes, at the right time, but that doesn’t detract from the simple fact that she owns it.” of young Kimmy, and what I concluded from that brief foray and indeed, how I feel now, may come as a shock to anyone who knows me and/or has read anything I’ve written over the past couple of years.

It’s like this – I think Kim Kardashian absolutely deserves her place on our TV screens, Instagram feeds, Facebook newsfeeds and magazine covers, and here’s why: She’s not as stupid as you think.

Mrs. Kardashian-West is, in fact, one of the most savvy, ingenious individuals in her ‘field’ right now. Granted, her field is pretty much defined by being in the right place, wearing the right clothes, and laughing at the right jokes, but that doesn’t detract from the simple fact that she owns it. If for one minute you think that anyone can do what she’s done as long as they have a little bit of luck and rich enough parents, let me be the first person to tell you that you’re more dumb than you think she is. There are plenty of super-rich people who would love to be in Kim’s shoes, so why aren’t more trust fund heiresses and insurance money girls marrying the biggest musicians in the world, or getting special endorsements from fashion labels like Dolce&Gabanna and Yves Saint Laurent?

I’ll tell you why – they’re either not willing to work for it or they’re not thinking big enough. Kim Kardashian does both, and has for a long time. She understands her target demographic, sets high goals and pushes them out until you can’t open an internet browser without seeing her name or photo somewhere. Sure, a lot of what she does isn’t exactly the pinnacle of artistic evolution, but that’s a matter of taste more than anything else.

The bottom line is that Kim K has converted a derogatory reality show start-up into an independent A-list career. She runs in her own lane and for that alone, demands respect.

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LIFE ASSURANCE SACOS’ wide range of Life Assurance products offer you and your family financial protection and the most ideal way of saving for the future.

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