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Archive -Seychelles

Up Close … with - Holbert Jean, an eternal scout |21 March 2017

Many of us have heard of Holbert Jean mainly when it comes to Seychelles Scouts. Holbert was born on August 1, 1969 and is of course a Leo. For his primary studies, he went through public school at St Paul’s and at Belonie for his secondary education. As was the norm then, he joined the National Youth Service (NYS) in 1985 and 1986. So far life was normal.

“After NYS I joined the Polytechnic School of Education and Community Studies for teacher’s training. I graduated after four years and won the Gold Medal Award sponsored by the Indo- Seychelles Friendship Association,” Holbert noted.

He taught in public schools for twelve years including Praslin school. In 1998, he joined the Independent school as a middle primary mathematics and science teacher where he taught for ten years until he resigned to join his wife in the daycare business which he is still doing now.

 

Family Life

Holbert is of Catholic faith. He found his better half, Charline, and got married in December 2000 and together they have three children  ̶  two daughters and a 5-year-old son. “Outside my marriage I have a 31-year-old daughter and a 25-year-old son. I am very much involved in other volunteer organisations in my church.”

By nature, Holbert is dedicated to his family and is quite involved in their life.

 

Scouting

The Seychelles Scouts Association has been a major part of Holbert Jean’s life. “My association with scout started during my teaching days at Independent school when I met Steve Lalande who was looking for somebody to start a troop at the school, so I volunteered. I went through different training locally and later started the 19th Seychelles Scout troop at the school. It was fun as I had very good cooperation and support from both the school and the parents of students in my troop. In those days we participated in two World Jamborees  ̶  2007 in England and 2011 in Sweden. We also organised exchange visits with our brother scouts from Kenya on several occasions. When I resigned in 2008 the troop became dormant and only last year, myself as a parent together with Francis Accouche, another scout enthusiast, and a teacher Ms Petrina, tried to revive the troop. Together we have over 18 cubs and some 14 scouts.”

Holbert said that when he joined the scouting movement he started as a scout leader then area commissioner, international commissioner and two years back he was elected as the chief commissioner.

“Scouting is all about learning by doing and our motto is ‘Be Prepared’. We start with Cubs from 6 years to 9 years , scouts from 10-15 years, 16 years and above as Ventures/Rover scouts, then as assistant scout leader and leader. We have a very explicit and well detailed programme for the different age groups. Scouting is the world’s largest youth organization,” he said.

Holbert is not insensitive about the current situation of our youth. “Our situation locally is quite interesting as we have lots of students interested in joining the movement but not enough adult volunteers to work with them. I am appealing to anyone who would like to help to contact our association on 2728612. Rest assured that whoever volunteers will receive the appropriate training. Our youths are stranded because we are not catering for them, they need to be involved in a programme and scouting has the best youth programme. Please volunteer today to help make a difference. It is always pleasing to see your scouts succeed in life.”

Holbert also said that their main challenge is to retain trained leaders as scouting is a volunteer organisation.

“I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to any organisation to consider scouting for their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) contribution as when we organise the different activities laid out in our programme the parents have to contribute everything,” he said.

Holbert ended on a positive note and observation : “Life as a volunteer is great and you cannot measure the amount of joy and happiness you feel when you see the contribution you have made in the life of others. Volunteerism also gives you life and makes you see life in a positive way. No matter what you do in life, you should also think how others are benefitting.”

 

About the Seychelles Scout Association

The association is headed by chief scout Bernard Elizabeth and the current chief commissioner is Holbert Jean, followed by other regional commissioners. In Seychelles there are currently nine active scout troops.

The Scout motto is ‘Be Prepared’ (English) and Sois Prêt (French).

The Scout Promise : ‘On my honour, I promise that I will do my best, to do my duty to God and to my country, to help other people and to keep the Scout Law’.

The Scout Law consists of

  • A Scout's honour is to be trusted.
  • A Scout is loyal.
  • A Scout's duty is to be useful and to help others.
  • A Scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout.
  • A Scout is courteous.
  • A Scout is a friend to animals.
  • A Scout obeys orders of his parents, patrol leaders or Scoutmaster without question.
  • A Scout smiles and whistles under all difficulties.
  • A Scout is thrifty.
  • A Scout is clean in thought, word and deed.

 

By Vidya Gappy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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