‘I have always been passionate about making a difference in society’

 Seychelles has a new Cabinet with 13 new ministers appointed. While some of them are familiar faces, others were not in the limelight. In an effort to better acquaint ourselves with the new cabinet, Seychelles NATION will be sharing with its readers profiles of each minister on a regular basis.

The second to talk to us is Patricia Francourt, Minister for Employment and Social Affairs.

Seychelles NATION: Who is Minister Patricia Francourt?

Minister Francourt: I am a 55-year-old mother of one who has always been passionate about making a difference in society. I am particularly passionate about empowering vulnerable groups of people to achieve their full potential, and I have dedicated over 20 years of my professional career to achieving this. During this time, I have been a strong advocate for children, young people and the disadvantaged in our society. I have always believed strongly in our youth and their worth. My close friends and family would describe me as a compassionate, energetic, caring and supportive person who gets things done.

Seychelles NATION: Tell our readers about your journey from childhood to your young adult years.

Minister Francourt: As a primary school student, I went to St Paul’s Girls’ School, which was an Anglican school situated next to Gordon Square (now known as Freedom Square). I then attended Regina Mundi Convent during my secondary school years, which later merged with Seychelles College. My first job in Seychelles was with the Central Bank, where I was fortunate to receive several professional development opportunities over a two-year period. I started off working as a cashier, and later moved to the research department.

In 1987, I was forced to move into exile in the United Kingdom. I lived in an area of south-west London called Hounslow, which I called home for 23 years. Adjusting to a new country – while involuntarily leaving my friends and family behind – was profoundly challenging; however, I adapted. After having my son, I worked part-time in banking for 10 years, where I worked as a cashier at a Bureau de Change at London Heathrow Airport. During this time, I decided that I wanted to transition towards a career in education. I undertook further studies to assist me with this, in order to completely re-train myself to work towards my professional goals. I worked in a West London-based secondary school for 10 years, as both a learning mentor, and later, as a learning support manager. These roles saw me working directly with disaffected young people and families from all walks of life, putting in place interventions to provide them with the best chance of alleviating barriers in order to realise their potential.

Seychelles NATION: Please tell us more about your professional life.

Minister Francourt: Throughout my career, I have always believed in pursuing training and professional development opportunities in order to give me the skills that I felt were needed to serve and empower others. While working at a secondary school in the UK, I undertook further training to become a qualified psychotherapist. I also worked as a trainer across various secondary and higher education establishments – where I promoted inclusion and equal opportunities for young people. I am trained in integrative approaches to counselling and up until I was appointed as minister, I ran my own private counselling practice. I also worked as a life and business coach, as well as a workforce trainer. Since moving back to Seychelles in 2010, I have volunteered for a range of causes that are close to my heart. I have voluntarily supported many programmes for young people at risk, and I have been an active member of the Cancer Concern Association.

Seychelles NATION: Tell us about your family life.

Minister Francourt: I grew up in St Louis and I am the sixth of seven siblings. My parents – Mr Ally and Mrs Zita Khan ‒ were retailers who ran a shop on Stevenson-Delhomme Road. They were pillars of the local community who taught us the values of helping and assisting people in our community. My mother was a kind and caring person and my father was known for his quick-wittedness and sharp-tongue! Our parents were very encouraging of their children in pursuing our education. I have a 32-year-old son who was born in the UK and now lives in the Seychelles.

Seychelles NATION: And now, being appointed a minister, what will be your main duty and how accessible will you be to the public?

Minister Francourt: It is an honour and privilege to have been appointed as Minister for Employment and Social Affairs, and I am under no illusions concerning the size of the task at hand for my team and I. As minister, my main duty is to provide strategic direction and guidance to my team. Both departments interact directly with the public through front-facing services, and it will be the job of my team and I to oversee a delivery of service that is efficient and of the highest quality. It will also be a key duty to oversee how both of my departments effectively interconnect, in order to ensure that we are meeting the needs of the public and that we are moving people from welfare to the world of work. I also want to ensure that, across my team, we are promoting opportunities, embracing personal and professional development, and pushing for greater productivity, with maximum results.

With the impact of Covid-19 on the country, we are navigating challenging times. We will need to push for greater social stability ‒ as well as continue in our efforts to re-skill segments of our population ‒ in order to secure jobs. At the heart of this will be a revolution around fostering positive mind-sets, attitudes and behaviours, which my ministry will look to drive forward.

It is crucial that members of the public are able to access their ministers, and I will be setting aside specific days where the general public will be able to book appointments to meet with me, through my office. The process to book appointments will be coordinated and communicated by my office over the coming days.

Compiled by Vidya Gappy