UP CLOSE … with Aline Morel, Senior Information & Communications Officer at the Labour Department |24 December 2013

‘As a society we have to be more tolerant of each other’

By Marylene Julie

Aline Morel is the Senior Information & Communications Officer in the Labour Department of the Ministry of Labour and Human Resource Development and resides at Roche Caïman. She has always enjoyed media-focused work and although challenges are there like in all other jobs, she believes that good communication skills are key when working in such a field.

She is the eldest of five children, has four siblings -- a sister and three brothers, is in a long-term relationship for the past seven years. She does not have any children but would like to have children one day though.

Today, Aline shares her joy, sadness, challenges and her life in general with ‘Up Close’…

 “I was born in Seychelles but I’ve had a very varied school life. For the early part of my school years, that is from creche to primary two, I went to Plaisance school. In 1987 my family relocated to the UK where I finished my primary education and started my secondary studies at an all girls school. In the mid 1990s my family moved back to Seychelles. I briefly attended Takamaka secondary school then I finished the remainder of my secondary education at Plaisance.

“In 1997, after secondary school, I went to the National Youth Service (NYS). I was at the Cap Ternay village and it was a very refreshing and unique school and living experience. After NYS, I attended the Seychelles Polytechnic, completed one year of foundation studies and a further two years at the School of Humanities and Sciences to complete my A’ levels,” says Aline.

Work experiences

She has also done professional studies in the field of marketing, completing the Advanced Certificate level with the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).

Aline says she has always enjoyed media-focused work and has experience in sales, marketing and public relations. Her first job was as a trainee journalist with the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Then her family moved back to the UK in 2000. She returned to Seychelles in 2005 and worked as a public relations assistant with the Ministry of Finance and then worked for almost two years as the public relations officer at the Seychelles Public Transport Corporation. She said the job there was a very interesting challenge as it was very public oriented.

In 2008 Aline went into sales and worked with Diamond SA for almost four years, first as a sales executive and later as an administrative officer. She also worked briefly as a guest relations officer at the Cerf Island Resort before being employed in her present job.

“Challenges are encountered in all jobs and I think working in any media related field, communication is key. The main challenge is to maintain good communication with colleagues and external stakeholders. I also think it is equally important to be a team player and with the support of my work colleagues, I am able to overcome challenges as and when they arise,” says Aline.

“I enjoy working in the Labour Department as the job changes from day to day and is not monotonous. There is a good mix of experienced and new staff members who are always ready to either share their experiences or learn from one another. Staff members are also very supportive and this helps to ensure that work runs smoothly and that the work environment remains conducive.”


Hobbies and past times

Like everyone else Aline also has her hobbies and past times. She enjoys reading, listening to music, swimming and socialising with family and friends. She believes it is important to make time for those you care about as you never know what the future holds.

“What I hate most is discrimination of any kind. I believe that we should respect other people’s background, way of life or opinions even if we may not necessarily agree with them. At the end of the day we are all shaped by our own experiences and I think being judgmental or discriminating against other people shows a lack of empathy for others.

 I think it is vital that as a community and society we learn to be more tolerant of each other,” she says.

Her childhood, bad and memorable experiences

Aline has also experienced sad moments in her life. Earlier this year her mother was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. She passed away in March. She says if she had the power to change something, she would ensure that a cure was found for cancer so that no one would ever have to die from this disease, which is also known as the silent killer. As the number of people being diagnosed with cancer is on the increase, Aline thinks people should be more conscious of their health.

“On the whole, my childhood was a very happy one. Having my brothers and sister meant that I was never alone and always had someone to talk to and even quarrel with. We are a close-knit family and like any family have gone through difficulties, but I think our sense of humour and zest for life have seen us through many trying times. Even though we have moved a few times, I would not wish to change my childhood for another. I have experienced life both here and in the UK and this has given me the chance to make a lot of friends and experience different cultures.

 As a result, this has made me a more confident, open-minded and independent person.

“The death of my mother was a very bad experience for me. It happened so quickly that I was not able to do or say the things that I wanted to say to her. Although she lived in the UK we have always been very close. The bond between a mother and a child is eternal.”

Her best memories are of her family and her mother. She has so many fond memories as a child growing up in London and spending time in the park, at funfairs, circuses and the zoo with her siblings and parents.

“As a child my mother was always there with a camera to capture everything. I remember how my siblings and I would be so annoyed as children because she was obsessed with us posing during all our trips, she really enjoyed her photography. Today I am most grateful as she has left us with so many pictures that serve as souvenirs of all our good times together. Even the ones with the bad hairstyles and clothes,” says Aline.

Another memorable experience for Aline is Christmas time. She says she just loves the magic of Christmas and thinks it’s a really special time for family and friends. Although some of her family reside in the UK, including two of her brothers, they always call and Skype each other during Christmas.

But she also thinks we all should reflect on the less fortunate and be grateful for the loved ones in our lives who continue to support us throughout the year during the good times and the bad times.

Hope for the future?

I believe that we never stop learning in life. I always try to find something new to do such as following a course via correspondence or online. In the future, I would like to pursue further studies in marketing.