UP CLOSE … with Vanessa Marie, technical operator with the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) |18 April 2017

‘As a woman never let the mistakes

you make and challenges you face

stop you from fulfilling your dreams’

By Marie-Anne Lepathy

Many admire her wherever she goes, always elegant and agile with her TV camera, while others wonder how she can cope with this job, managing the heavy piece of equipment in sometimes difficult situations. But after almost seven years, she is very comfortable and use to doing that.

Recently we got to chat about her job and how she overcame numerous challenges to find herself, build her confidence, beat all odds to be in the job she likes. She is no other than young Vanessa Marie, the only remaining female operating a camera at the SBC (Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation).

Now living at Ile Perseverance, Vanessa used to live at Anse Royale and attended school there for all her primary and secondary education before proceeding to follow a course in tourism and tour guiding at the former SHTTC (Seychelles Hotel and Tourism Training College) between 2005 to 2006 and graduated in 2007.

But Vanessa admits that her interest was never in the tourism sector but rather in the arts which unfortunately for her, for some reason or other, the course was not available the year she was to join post-secondary and so she opted for one in tourism.

“I have to admit that watching the tour guides doing their rounds with groups of visitors in town always fascinated me. They were always well dressed in their colourful uniforms with the well loved frangipane flower printed on them,” Vanessa recalls.

“I always thought their work was interesting as well as exciting and I believe this motivated me to take a course in tourism when I found that I would not be able to enroll on a course in the arts,” the young lady remembers.

At that time she lived at Sweet Escott, Anse Royale and she often came across bus loads of visitors and their guides going up and down the Jardin du Roi (spice gardens) at Enfoncement not far off.

During her work attachment period Vanessa worked at Mason’s Travel and upon graduating she took a part-time job with 7˚South but for a short period only because her dream was to follow her heart and that led her to reapply for a course with the school of Visual Arts the following year. For the two ensuing years, as a mature student, she followed a course in textiles from which she excelled and even clinched the President’s Cup as well as other prizes.

“I worked really hard to fulfill my dream and I succeeded,” she says.

“I will never forget the day I graduated on March 5, 2010; it was the best moment of my life and the best birthday gift ever as I had celebrated my birthday just two days before on March 3,” says Vanessa.

She recalls when she was still attending secondary school she used to love watching post-secondary students on their graduation day how dressed up they were and proudly wearing their gowns and going up on stage to collect their diplomas and prizes.

“I always dreamt how it would feel like to hold the President’s Cup and I said why can’t I, so I worked hard to get it,” Vanessa says.

She worked hard to fulfil her dreams and in the end she succeeded.

“As soon as I completed my course I sent my CV to the different organisations and the SBC was one of them and also the first to respond favourably and so I seized the opportunity which presented itself,” Vanessa recalls.

But at that time the young graduate was doing part-time work in environment and conservation at Ile du Nord while she waited for something more permanent to come up.

“I just cannot be idle,” she says, noting that the environment and conservation is also an area which fascinates her very much.

Childhood days and career

Shy and introverted, Vanessa and her siblings have had quite a difficult and not so happy childhood and as she was growing up the young lady admits she lacked self-confidence and that she needed some time to really find herself and build her confidence.

“The two courses I followed really helped me a lot; the first boosted my self-confidence when expressing myself and dealing with people while the other boosted my artistic skills,” Vanessa points out.

As a technical operator she says that anyone working behind a camera needs a good artistic background.   

“Unlike a tour guide enlightening visitors on different aspects of our history and culture, in my line of work I meet and talk to a lot of people including important personalities both local and visiting foreign dignitaries and I always ensure they really look good when in front of the camera with adequate background light, good setting, right colour, that the person posture is proper and also that he or she is well framed before I start filming. This is art,” she points out laughing.

Seven years behind the camera lenses Vanessa says she can hardly believe that already so much time has gone by.

For her it only seems like a couple of weeks ago when she started work. After following six months intensive training, Vanessa was among the first group of young people to be trained in the SBC learning centre, and the only remaining female doing such a job after two other ladies before her have ventured into other fields.

Laughingly Vanessa still recalls how she kept secret the course she was following from her mother and the rest of her family who all along believed she was studying to become a journalist, producer or news reader and she still remembers the day her mother found out the truth.

“Vanessa do you think you would be able to lift this heavy thing and carry it along all the time?” Vanessa quotes her mother as saying when the truth came to light.

“In fact a lot of people who know me, including some of my teachers, still cannot believe the shy, timid and introverted Vanessa is a TV camera operator working in a men dominated domain. But Vanessa stresses that she does not get any preferential treatment because she is a woman.

“When it is time to drag the camera up a hill to film a bush fire or tumble down a slope later on, it is up to me like anybody else,” she points out.

But the young lady, who always wear trousers as she believes it is more comfortable, makes her movement easier and boosts her confidence, really enjoy her work.

“I really enjoy and love what I do because I never wanted to be stuck in an office day in and day out,” she points out, noting that working shifts, weekends and public holidays is no problem for her especially now that she is so use to her work.

Profession of honour and discovery

Vanessa says her job has taken her abroad on several occasions, covering overseas assignments and this means so much for her.

“It broadens your knowledge in many ways, you brush shoulders with more experienced camera operators from other countries which enhances your skills and boosts your confidence, you meet different people, experience different cultures and you discover places you had hitherto only dreamt of visiting or seen on postcards or television,” she says.

She still remembers the most recent assignment overseas and this was covering Air Seychelles’ inaugural flight to Paris last July.

“It was really an exciting moment and one of discovery for me and those memories I will always cherish,” says Vanessa.

Here locally Vanessa has discovered several of the outlying islands something which many Seychellois wish they could visit.

On a daily basis the young lady meets many different people and over the years the list of dignitaries has lengthened.

“I feel really privileged and honoured to be the one to make them feel at ease before a TV interview starts. Often you won’t believe it but many interviewees are shy and really tense in front of a TV camera and it is a great pleasure for me to make them feel comfortable,” she says.

Leisure time and hobbies

Vanessa describes herself as a simple and humble person and a nature lover. On her days off she enjoys a good rest and takes time to laze around the house. She also loves to listen to good music which she says helps relax her mind. She also sets time aside to watch some of her favourite TV series, socialise and hang out with friends.

The future, message for young people

As she loves her work so much, Vanessa is not thinking of leaving the SBC anytime soon.

“I have come a long way in my life and I love the Vanessa I am and I want to develop further in my career and study if the opportunity presents itself to achieve greater heights. I want to go far in life and achieve great things and continue to see the world when I get the chance.

“My message to other young women out there is that nothing is impossible in life if God is your anchor. Do not let the challenges, mistakes you make nor anybody pull you down.  Here opportunities abound, seize the chance to pursue your dreams and the career you want.

“There are so many opportunities for the youths nowadays so make the most of them. In life if you don’t underestimate yourself you can do anything you set your mind to. Just believe in yourself and have faith,” Vanessa says confidently.