Up Close … with Seychelles 'First Lady Natalie Michel

For the love of children

My entretien with Seychelles’ youngest First Lady, Natalie Michel, née Pothin, was at her office in the State House annexe building, Bel Eau.

This was my first face-to-face meeting with Mrs Michel and took place in her visitors’ room, which was very simply yet well decorated. The interior of the old building, which has a lovely view of the town at its feet, has a youthful charm.
Description: Mrs Michel … making a difference for the country’s less fortunate childrenThe 33-year-old wife of President James Michel and mother of four-year-old Laeticia greeted me with a smile.

I was there to learn more about her for the Nation’s new profile page, and she shared with me her passion for children and interior decoration. She spoke about her reasons for keeping a low profile at the start of her role as First Lady and more about life as the President’s wife.

Mrs Michel described herself as very fortunate, as in her role she is able to put her heart, soul and time into making a difference for the country’s less fortunate children.

“The most important thing for me is the innocence of a child, and this should be protected,” she said.
In her role as patron and founder of the Children’s Homes Foundation, she has been able to bring the President’s Village orphanage under her wing, and the foundation is now responsible for over 50 children.

Earlier this year, along with her staff, Mrs Michel launched an educational and fun magazine for children – Jojo & Friends.

Mrs Michel did not often step into the limelight at the beginning, because she wanted to take things one step at a time, so that she could do all the ground work towards issues close to her heart. She wanted to make sure she got things right in her role as the First Lady before stepping in the limelight.
“I have to respond to the public’s numerous requests, and I get many letters from them,” she said.
These include letters from parents asking for assistance, and she helps them where possible or refers their case to the appropriate services.
But she said her priority is also her family – Laeticia and Mr Michel.


The First Family... First Lady Natalie Michel with husband President James Michel and their daughther Laeticia

Every day she takes her daughter to school and picks her up again afterwards. When the two are at home they do a lot of things together, like watching cartoons and reading -- “she likes it when I bathe her and tell her stories”.

Laeticia who is a friendly little girl, often has her friends over for the weekend and she also goes to the library, the museum and she also enjoys shopping. Sometimes Mrs Michel and Laeticia go to visit relatives on Praslin.
“Despite her father’s heavy daily schedule, he makes sure he spends quality time with her. She enjoys her father’s bedtime stories, which is always a very special moment for both of them,” said Mrs Michel.

When they are together as a family they have fun, and quality time is very important to them.
“My husband is a leader and a politician, and he is a man who is very hardworking and devoted to his country and people” – this was how she described the President.
“He has tight schedules, and as the First Lady my role is to understand his work and stand by him, no matter what.”

She makes sure that when he comes home he does not have to worry about a thing, she added.
In the time that she has left for herself, Mrs Michel enjoys listening to music. Canadian singer Celine Dion is her favourite with her songs I’m Alive and To Love You More, and she also likes Patrick Victor, Chicco and many other local artists.

She also reads and goes swimming and has a passion for interior decoration. I learned that she had a major say in the décor at her Bel Eau Office.
The First Lady is the eldest in a family of five, with three sisters and one brother. Both her parents have their own business – mother Judy Savy, née De-Charmoy-Lablache, and father Regis Pothin.

Mrs Michel was born on August 18, 1977 and grew up with her family on Praslin.
She attended primary and secondary schools on the island and did further studies on Mahe before going on to specialised training in Singapore and the United Kingdom, where she took diploma level courses in business administration, hospitality management, advertising and public relations.

She also holds an International Diploma in Advertising and Public Relations, as well as one in Tourism and Travel Management from the Cambridge International College.
After her studies she had the chance to work for some well-known hotels and travel agencies in Seychelles.

Mrs Michel will very soon join the popular social networking website Facebook so as to keep in touch better with people in the communities.

Source: NATION 1-4-11