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UP CLOSE with … Isabelle Ravinia, research officer, website/social media administrator at SNPA), secretary of NGO Sea Turtle Friends Seychelles |29 May 2018

‘There is so much happening in conservation and environment but so few people to help out’

 

By Marylene Julie

Isabelle Ravinia works as a Research Officer at the Seychelles National Parks Authority (SNPA) where she focuses on marine research. She says there is so much happening in conservation and environment with so much to do but so few people to help out. At SNPA they conduct marine surveys, control invasive species, attend a lot of meetings and workshops. But Isabelle uses her background in education to raise awareness and the visibility of SNPA - which she says works very hard. SNPA has a 100% Seychellois workforce which ensures proper management of protected areas. The authority manages five national parks and one special reserve.

Isabelle says considering the SNPA’s capacity, it is doing its best.

UP CLOSE met up with Isabelle to know more about herself and her work.

 

Education

I did all my primary and secondary education at Beau Vallon school (from Creche to S4), did one year at the Port Launay National Youth Service (NYS). I then went to the Polytechnic for my A-levels and later on to the United Kingdom for my Bachelor’s degree in marine biology. I also did a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) at the then National Institute of Education (NIE), now the Seychelles Institute of Teacher Training (SITE).”

Isabelle lives at Beau Vallon, more specifically at Mare Anglaise. She enjoys reading.

Isabelle lives with her partner and daughter, they have a cat and a dog.

She has one brother and one sister.

 

Childhood days

“I spent a lot of my childhood days with my cousins and friends on Beau Vallon beach, where I spent most of my days swimming in the sea. I was a very sporty person, being able to do almost any sports in the country -- from volleyball, basketball, football to cycling and skating. My favourite subject at school was physical education (PE), even if I was a very academic student. I remember all those near drowning incidents and till today I am very grateful to all my friends who rescued me. I once borrowed a small dinghy from my aunt and started to paddle in the bay without realising that we were in the southeast trade wind season and that the wind was blowing heavily out to sea. In minutes I found myself staring at ‘ants’ on the beach as I was so far out and these were actually my friends playing volleyball. I got really scared, I started to cry. I jumped in the water trying to swim, but the wind kept blowing at the rubber dinghy. I got back in again and cried some more. I prayed and started to ask God for forgiveness (I must have been around 13 years of age at that time). I also wondered where I would end up? Eventually a nice gentleman who was the skipper in one of those charter boats, came up and ask if I was okay? I was going to say yes but my fear got the better of me and I told him that I was not. I was then taken back to the beach, with my dinghy, to my friends who were busy with their volleyball, unaware that I nearly vanished. Of course in those days they would tease me, and I felt so embarrassed! I also remember enjoying taking part in sporting activities and this is where I met my best friend 25 years ago, at an inter-school volleyball competition,” says Isabelle.

Isabelle says her best moments are the time she spends with her long-term partner, whom she says makes her very happy and complete.

“That period of my life started after I completed university and it has just been awesome. Dreams do come true,” she says.

 

Fond memories

Isabelle has spent 10 years as a secondary science teacher and says she has fond memories of those days. Even if she left, she really enjoyed teaching and school as it taught her a lot.

“There were hard days but I had a lot of fun. School enabled me to showcase my creativity. I  put together four variety shows and a beauty pageant at the International Conference Centre (ICCS), giving students the opportunity to demonstrate their talents. Trust me there is rarely a boring day at a secondary school!”

 

More on her current job

“I completed a degree in marine biology (a very enjoyable course) but upon my return in the country, I noticed that there was not much happening in that field at that time. I was bored and wanted to work. After three months I decided to go teach. There was an outcry for teachers then. At first it was hard but I ended up staying for 10 long years. Now I am back in conservation and environment and there is so much happening. It seems as if there is so much to do but so few people to help out. What I enjoy most in my job is the possibility of using a variety of means to reach out to the public. I am shifting away from the traditional methods of education and outreach as I believe we can raise awareness through sports and arts,” says Isabelle.

She added this is why she started the Ste Anne Marine Park annual kayak race so as to let people know we have an old and beautiful marine park, five minutes away from Victoria which they can explore and appreciate.

“I have also expanded the Cap Ternay raft race for charity, to make people aware of the existence of a beautiful marine park and the importance of recycling, as rafts should be made from recycled materials. Art is such a powerful medium to spread awareness. Last year in partnership with pro-Art, I organised and art exhibition (a first for SNPA) about Curieuse Marine National Park. The artwork from popular local artists depicting the beauty and attractions of the park were exhibited for ten days at the Eden Art Gallery. I sincerely believe that working closely with different types of artists will help bring out the message on the environment and protected areas in general.”

And to be able to do such a job, Isabelle says one needs to have a background in marine or environmental science, be able to dive and be committed and hard working.

Challenges in her current job

But Isabelle also faces challenges in her job.

“There is a massive demand from schools for environment education/activities. Unfortunately there is just too much work to do. I wish I could dedicate more time to school children and help them learn more about the country’s unique environment. I started the holiday snorkelling classes last year and the number of people still wanting to enroll is beyond the authority’s ability to cater for.

 

What she hates and what she would change if she could

“I believe in justice and fairness. I hate the fact that we have a big heroin problem in the country and it does not seem it would be eradicated any time soon. It is causing so much devastation, it is unbelievable! I will make our drug problem vanish!”

 

Hope for the future?

“My hope for the future is to see people not eating turtle meat, a total ban on non-biodegradable plastics, the country’s energy source being renewable, a peaceful country free of drugs and more NGOs working in environmental education.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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