Department ‘Passion for nature, environment protection drives me to continue doing what I do’ |11 June 2019

Ms Rose receiving a token of appreciation from President Faure

By Marie-Anne Lepathy

She has developed a great passion for nature and an innermost desire drives her to continue to help protect and preserve our environment, this great treasure bestowed on our country for protection and safe keeping and she is convinced that she will not change her job for any other.

Her hard work and long years of service in environment protection and nature conservation was publicly recognised and appreciated by the highest authority in the land when President Danny Faure received a group of workers in this field including her on World Environment Day, June 5 last week during a ceremony at State House. During the event, she was presented with a token of appreciation by President Faure.

She is Helene Rose, a 48-year-old mother of four – three daughters and a son – who has spent 20 long years of hard work preserving our biodiversity and taking care of our environment in general.

Originally from La Digue, she moved to Praslin when she was only 18 months old and this is where she has stayed until today. Currently she is working as a senior climate adaptation technician with the Climate Adaptation and Management section in the Environment Department based at Fond Boffay.

I caught up with her after the ceremony at State House last week before she took the ferry to go back to Praslin and her beloved job. Ms Rose was excited to share her passion and how it all started.

“I never thought I would be standing here one day and who would have thought that already 20 years have gone by. There is so much to do and when you are busy you don’t realise that so many years are passing you by,” she confided.

Working in environment was not a childhood dream of Ms Rose. She did her schooling on Praslin but came to Mahé to follow the National Youth Service (NYS) on Ste Anne Island in the late 80s.

But unfortunately, for various reasons, she did not complete the NYS but went back to Praslin where she found work as a babysitter with a family who had only one small child at that time.

But surprisingly before realising it, she had spent 11 years working with the family as a babysitter-cum-domestic worker.

“I believe that because I enjoyed what I was doing I did not realise so many years had gone by,” Ms Rose remarked, noting that during that time the family had had two more babies which she took care of as well.

When she left the family she took a job at La Reserve Hotel helping in the restaurant preparing breakfast only. But she spent only nine months there.

“I enjoyed the work but because of some disagreement relating to the shift hours I could no longer stay,” Ms Rose recalled.

Growing interest in and love for plants, the environment

Through her long friendship with Mr Victorin Laboudallon, well known environment activist and a friend of the family, the latter encouraged Ms Rose to seek an eight to four job which would be better for her and providing her enough time to better meet her needs as she already had two daughters and also practicing her beloved sport volleyball.

“But at the same time I was already in the process of looking for another job with the then Praslin Development Fund (PDF),” Ms Rose recounted.

The young woman eventually secured a job as a field worker.

“My work consisted of beautifying public areas and around public buildings. It was really fun as I learnt a lot about the different ornamental as well as flowering plants and how best to trim and take good care of them after planting,” she remembered.

“I would say the job really raised my awareness of the environment around me, increased my interest in plants and my great love for them, taking care of them and ensuring they grow, thrive and flower to bring colour and beauty to the environment around us.”

But the time she was going to work with the PDF lasted only around eight months as a transition process resulted in her having to move again. But with her new interest in the environment, she did not hesitate to take a new job at the wetland section of the environment department and she started as a field worker on November 16, 1998 working alongside a group of men.

“I worked in a team comprising seven men and our job included cleaning rivers and marshes, trimming branches, controlling creepers and other invasive plant species in the Fond Boffay area,” she said.

“I used to wear big boots together with full body protection gear and gloves. I would accompany the men in the marshes to remove debris and other rubbish so the water could flow freely,” said Ms Rose.

“I remember the work was very hard and apart from cutting down heavy branches, cleaning marches, help put out fires, help in emergency cases in the community, we also had to carry all the equipment we need for our work and this included carrying them up steep and hilly terrains and this was very difficult especially during the rainy seasons but we enjoyed what we do and we were always happy and content when we stood back and admired our handy work

after successfully completing everything we had been tasked to do. But I really enjoyed working with my team mates and we got on very well and they treated me as an equal,” Ms Rose remembered.

She said over the years their scope of work has diversified as well as increased and many changes have taken place and in the more recent past cleaning contractors have come onboard and somehow changing the way they were carrying out environment cleaning.

Today 20 years later Ms Rose is still enjoying her work protecting and preserving our environment in spite of the different transitions over the years.

“I have developed a great passion for nature conservation and environment protection and this is why I am still working in environment. I believe I focus more on the job I have to do than the money I am earning because if it was the other way round I would probably have moved on,” Ms Rose affirmed.

She has followed several small training programmes over time to better herself in what she does and enjoys doing.

Work and challenges

Currently a senior climate adaptation technician in the Climate Adaptation and Management Section of the Environment Department, the field worker of 20 years ago is now a supervisor.

With all the experience gained over the years Ms Rose gradually moved to assume other positions and is currently, as a supervisor, ensuring that the contractors carry out their cleaning duties accordingly.

“If they carry out the work as per the instructions, things will flow but this is not always the case and can be very challenging at times,” Ms Rose admitted.

While she enjoys her work Ms Rose admits that challenges abound.

Satisfaction

Ms Rose said her greatest satisfaction in the work she does is when the contractors carry out the different cleaning tasks as per the given instructions. She pointed out that the contractors are tasked with waste collection, cleaning and unblocking marshes, among others.

Furthermore she is happy when people take environment protection seriously by not littering public places and dumping their rubbish in marshes and rivers but instead by properly collecting and disposing of them.

“This is not always easy but information when given in the right way with the right approach and tact, even though it takes time, people understand,” she pointed out.

A very active person, Ms Rose who lives at Marie Jeanne Estate is always ready to take part in activities or give a helping hand in the community when it comes to   environment protection and nature conservation.    

Life outside work

When not working Ms Rose, an avid volleyball player, practices and play in her own team set up some years back – Island Pearl. Two of her daughters are also on the team and often they travel to Mahé to take part in competitions.

“Volleyball is my favourite sport and my other passion and it is fun,” said Ms Rose.

She recalled when her children were small she took them with her to the court if there was no one to babysit for her.

“I believe this is why my children love the sport as well,” she said laughing. Currently single Ms Rose said she loves to be independent so she can organise her life, her work and spare time to socialise without any hassle.

When she is at home, Ms Rose enjoys spending time with her family including her three adorable grand children.

Future

As the effects of climate change continue to affect the weather pattern resulting in extreme weather conditions that have great impacts on our communities, Ms Rose is more determined to continue in her work to ensure our marshes and rivers flow properly to avoid flooding during bad weather. Educating people in the communities on best practices when it comes to waste disposal remain among her greatest concerns.

“It is nice when there is no flooding when it rains because all the drains and marshes and rivers are properly kept, no trees fall because they have been properly trimmed,” said Ms Rose noting that all this will only be possible when everybody take their responsibilities seriously.

Her message for the young people especially young women is: “When you take a job in nature conservation and environment protection, work with passion and love and do it because you love it and not just for the money you will earn. Young women do not be hesitant to take a job in this field as women can work better than the men and there is nothing to be afraid of.”

Asked where she sees herself in a few years time, Ms Rose had this to say:

“I don’t see myself going anywhere, this is what I will be doing until I no longer have any strength left.”