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    Happy Independence Day Seychelles! #Seychelles Happy Independence Day Seychelles!
#Seychelles
    Seychelles will remember Geva René as a woman wit Seychelles will remember Geva René as a woman with boundless love for children. Her passion for the welfare of children was at the forefront of all that she did, and she worked tirelessly to create a better environment for the young people of Seychelles. Her passion and devotion to this cause were enduring, and her legacy in this area is the epitome of the power of compassion and empathy. Story on Cosmocreole and link in the bio

#inspirationallife
#Seychelles #firstlady #loss #children
    Seychellois sisters, Dominique and Camilla Ernesta Seychellois sisters, Dominique and Camilla Ernesta have joined forces to create the swimwear brand Aimée Swim – Inspired by Seychelles, Aimée Swim is an eco-conscious swimwear brand based in Seychelles that currently offers 18 pieces, some of which can be mixed and matched to taste. Dominique and Camilla settled for Aimée Swim as their brand name as the name Aimée has sentimental meanings for them as well as for the family.Read their story on Cosmocreole. Link in the bio
#womenentrepreneurs  #youngentrepreneur #swim
#swimwear #ecofriendly #Seychelles #summer
    Three life coaches originating from the beautiful Three life coaches originating from the beautiful island of Seychelles but living on three different continents have joined forces and will be hosting an online Summit, "She Sparkles" on the 28th and 29th of April. The three Certified Life Coaches, Marsha Parcou, Enda Gilbert and Lucy Dogley-Darani have come together to support, inspire and hold space for women all over the world. The message behind this gathering is that "One woman can make a difference, but together, we're mighty."

Read on Cosmocreole.

#shesparklessummit #seychelloise #lifecoach
    Three Certified Life Coaches originating from Seyc Three Certified Life Coaches originating from Seychelles, living on three different continents, have come together to host this online summit to support, inspire and hold space for women all over the world. 
#Seychellois #shesparkles #lifecoach #burnoutprevention #griefsupport #womenentrepreneurs #seychelles
    Elaine Desnousse, 33 years old, from the Seychelle Elaine Desnousse, 33 years old, from the Seychelles islands, was born with a respiratory disease diagnosed as bronchiectasis when she was a teenager. With repeated infections over the years, the disease was progressive and led to respiratory failure. This affected Elaine’s wellbeing and quality of life, which meant she would ultimately need a lung transplant; without it her future was bleak—her life ending sooner than expected. 

Despite many challenges, both her lungs were replaced with those received from a donor. Read Elaine’s journey to a new lease of life and breathing easier than before on Cosmocreole. Link in the bio.

#lungtransplant #respiratorydisease #inspiration #organdonation #Seychelles  #newleaseoflife
    Huge congratulations to Sarentha Luther on her rec Huge congratulations to Sarentha Luther on her recent selection as a 2023 Mandela Washington Fellow.The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of the U.S. Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). YALI was created in 2010. Established in 2014, the Mandela Washington Fellowship has brought nearly 5,800 young leaders from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa to the United States for academic and leadership training. The Fellows, between the ages of 25 and 35, are accomplished innovators and leaders in their communities and countries. 
You can read Sarentha's story on Cosmocreole. A truly inspirational young Seychellois.
#mandelawashingtonfellow #youngafricanleadersinitiative  #seychellois #clinicalentrepreneur #seychelles #Cosmocreole
    To all mothers, we hear and we see you —love mak To all mothers, we hear and we see you —love makes you do it.

To the mothers of neurodiverse children, we salute you for fighting, paving the way for your children even though no one has paved the way for you.

To the mothers who have lost a child, you are heartbroken, but the way you move forward in grief is humbling and inspiring.

To the mothers of differently-abled children, tiredness is your life but you do not give up. We see your love.

To the mothers of adopted children, you are brave —giving a home, being there—loving them.

To the mothers doing it alone, your determination is noted—you are stronger than you think.

To all mothers, you are unique—accommodating and fiercely protective women because of motherhood.

If your part of the world is celebrating Mother's day - Happy Mother's Day 💐

#mothers #happymothersday  #motherhood
    They are Seychelloise...across 4 continents... the They are Seychelloise...across 4 continents... they share their Love, Life, Loss and Everything in Between. Read on Cosmocreole. Link in the bio.
#happywomensday #Seychelles #seychellois #lifecoaching #womenentrepreneurs #heritage  #writer #Cosmocreole
    I started Cosmocreole to give Seychellois women a I started Cosmocreole to give Seychellois women a platform to share their stories, connect with others and inspire each other no matter where they are in the world. I am forever grateful I did what my heart yearned because on this journey I have met ( in person and virtually) some amazing, talented and inspirational Seychellois women around the world, and that has been a real blessing.

Happy Women’s Day

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Nationhood

28 November 2020 · In: Arts & Culture, journal

In August 2020, Seychelles celebrated a huge milestone—250 years as a Nation. Our nation came into existence with 15 white colonists, seven slaves, five Indians and one black woman as its first known inhabitants. This was the start of us—a nation.

Photo credit: Michel Daniel Denousse

My great-grandmother was born Caroline Rideau in Foret Noire. She was one of ten children born to Philogene and Jeanne Rideau. Like many other young girls of the time, she was married when she was a teenager. Her husband’s name was Jacob Vel. He died, leaving her widowed at 24 with two young boys. 12 years later, after a brief affair with an Indian merchant who had set up shop in Market Street, she fell pregnant and gave birth to a daughter, my grandmother, Elina. I am named after her. The father, who was allegedly married, didn’t stay in Seychelles for too long after that. There are rumours that he would send her jewellery from India, but I don’t know for sure.

Elina was a somewhat troubled individual – or is it just the way the stories have been told? She was a force to be reckoned with. She even gave a catholic priest a piece of her mind once after an incident of ill-treatment involving my mother (we are Anglican). Of course, this, at the time, was not how one was expected to behave with a man of the church. Still, putting all the stories and bits and pieces together, I get a sense of terror. But she was also an alcoholic, so I guess that makes it a bit complicated.

She never married. In her late thirties, along with the participation of a fellow alcoholic, my mother came into the picture. Her father didn’t stay in that picture for too long either. His name was Moris, and I have no picture of him at all. The few times I would ask about him as a child and queried as to what he looked like, the neighbours would tell me ‘I ti en nwanr later rouz’. English translation: red-earthed black man. To this day, I have no clue what that means. My mother has a handful of times, spoken of the call she got when he died and how she had to go to the funeral. When I think of the closeness I had with my father, who died in my arms, I struggle to comprehend the indifference to one.

As our country marks its 250th anniversary, I cannot help but ponder a little bit of our heritage, in particular, my own. I do not have a single picture of them, which could maybe create some form of connection. Despite this, though, I feel like I know them. The short Indian man in a sarong roaming market streets, Elina’s long Cinderella hair, Moris’ temper – I have paid enough attention to know a tiny bit of the puzzle that they were. I will never have the missing pieces, but that’s OK, because, in many ways, I am them.

Elina Rideau. The name which fills up my maternal grandmother slot in my family tree.

Shortly after I shared this piece, my brother came across this photo of her amongst buried and forgotten treasures. For the past few months, I have taken a few minutes each day to look at her face. I told myself I would share it if only I ever reached a point that I would know her completely, so much so, that if our paths crossed and despite knowing she had passed decades ago, I would recognize her.

The photo was taken in 1973. My brother is in my mother’s arms and my grandmother standing next to them

I think I’m there now.

If we had lived in the same lifetime, I cannot think of anything we would have agreed upon. It would have been a very complicated relationship. But, I would have certainly reciprocated her love. I’d like to think she would have made me laugh, and I would have helped her heal.

I carry her name. I have always carried her. Now, I know her face.

By Marie-France Watson

· In: Arts & Culture, journal

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