They Repair the Living

They have experienced abandonment or deprivation, and have turned it into a fortress. From the former village child to the adoptive mother, meet three Mauritian women who are stitching childhood back together by hand.

Mehzabeen Gaspard knows every corner of this school. The hallways, the courtyard, the kitchen, the classrooms. She has known them since childhood because she grew up here. Mehzabeen arrived at SOS Children's Villages Mauritius as a child, with no family waiting for her in the evening. She leaves as an adult, every evening after her workday. Between these two moments lies an entire life.

For twelve years, she has been a School Attendant at the village's nursery school. Her story is one of a young girl who, despite challenges, found the strength to rebuild herself and transform her past into a driving force to help others. She shares this story today with great emotion and pride.

Her arrival at SOS came after a difficult period that she does not detail. What she remembers is what she found there: much more than a roof over her head. A family, a reassuring presence, adults ready to guide her on the path to reconstruction.

It was especially the Caregivers— "bann mama," as she still calls them today— who played a decisive role. "They helped me regain my self-confidence. They taught me to be responsible through life lessons and shared experiences. It is these teachings that have contributed to making me the strong woman I am today, committed to the development of young children."

Over the years, she lived a childhood and adolescence in the village that she describes as normal: a standard education, an environment that allowed her to thrive and develop her autonomy. She fondly remembers the little life lessons shared daily. "Bann mama ti pe aprann nou kwi." Learning to cook, to fend for oneself, to care for oneself and others. Simple gestures that allowed her to gain independence from a young age. Even today, she utilizes these skills in her family life by preparing delicious meals for her husband.

She did not choose her vocation on any specific day. As a child, she loved to care for the younger ones living in the same house in the village. "I helped them, reassured them, and played with them. Unknowingly, these moments were the first steps towards the vocation that would later give deep meaning to my life."

Building her life was not without its challenges. She confides that at one point, she felt different from others. "Not having grown up with my parents sometimes made me fear the gaze or prejudices of society. But I learned to overcome these fears thanks to the support of those around me."

Her in-laws and colleagues played an essential role in her growth. "Their welcome, support, and trust allowed me to feel fully accepted and valued."

An independent woman, she has always ensured that she could provide for herself. When she reflects on her journey, she describes herself without hesitation as a warrior. "From a young age, I learned to fight and move forward despite obstacles. Challenges were many, but I never gave up. I am morally strong. Despite everything I have been through, I am still standing... and smiling."

To the young girls growing up today at SOS Children's Villages Mauritius, she sends a message of hope. Life, she says, is not always easy. But one should never give up or doubt their worth. "You must believe in yourself. We are capable women, and nothing can stop us if we have confidence in ourselves."

She encourages them never to let difficulties or the opinions of others destabilize them. She emphasizes that staying positive is essential because even the darkest periods eventually pass. "No matter the obstacles or wounds of the past, it is always possible to rise again and build your own path."

Today, by working daily with the children at the nursery school, Mehzabeen Gaspard pursues a mission that is deeply important to her: to offer the youngest the attention, encouragement, and love that once helped her to rise and believe in the future.

The Shift Towards Others

If Mehzabeen embodies the return to oneself, Nadine Bahadoor embodies the shift towards others. A versatile and curious woman by nature, always smiling, known for her infectious laughter and zest for life, Nadine joined SOS Children's Villages Mauritius 16 years ago as a Family Assistant. For two years, she took care of ironing and cleaning the village homes. An apparently simple job, but one that allowed her to closely observe life within the community.

Very quickly, she felt she had found her place. Not having had the chance to have children, she says she found here a form of clarity: "This organization has given me a true family of the heart."

By observing the Caregivers and their relationship with the children, an idea began to sprout. "Mo’nn santi mwa pre pou vinn enn mama SOS." Thanks to the numerous training courses offered by the organization, she took the plunge and became a Caregiver. For 13 years, the children became the center of her life.

Among them was a 13-year-old boy. A special bond formed quickly. The boy, despite his age, showed great maturity. He often helped Nadine reassure the younger ones when they arrived at the village, sometimes shaken by their new reality. Approaching his 18th birthday, he made an unexpected request: to be able to live with her. After careful consideration, she agreed to open her home to him.

"Many people around me did not understand my decision. They wondered why I wanted to welcome a young adult with a complicated past." But for her, the choice was clear.

Today, the young man is fully integrated into her family. "Li enn zanfan lakaz aster," she smiles. She fondly recalls the simple everyday moments with this child who has become her son: coming home in the evening, sharing a meal, listening to the story of his day. "This decision allowed me to experience something I never would have imagined: being a mother."

After years dedicated to residential life, Nadine redirected her career. She is now an Office Attendant at the SOS Children's Villages Mauritius Head Office, while maintaining the same commitment to the organization's mission. For her, the key to children's well-being lies in listening and understanding. "A child must feel understood, listened to, and free to express themselves." With the younger ones, she prefers simple words to explain their presence at SOS. "You must use reassuring words so they are not afraid and feel confident."

To those who support the organization, she expresses a message of gratitude. Their contribution, she says, is essential to providing children with a stable and secure environment. To future Caregivers, she issues a direct invitation: "Seeing children grow and thrive is an immense joy. Children also teach us to appreciate the simple things and keep our feet on the ground." And at the center of it all, a sentence that summarizes her journey better than any explanation: "C’est lui qui m’a choisie."

A Big Family

Marie Jossé Laregain did not wait to be chosen. She has been here for 35 years. Miss Maria—this is what everyone calls her, colleagues and students alike, at the SOS Children's Villages Mauritius nursery—has dedicated 35 years of her life to nourishing, supporting, and guiding the youngest.

She still remembers the day of her job interview, and a phrase heard that day that has never left her: "Welcome to the big SOS family." These words gave her a sense of belonging that has never left her, neither after one year, nor after ten, nor after thirty-five.

Preparing meals for the children has never been a neutral gesture for her. "Through each dish, I introduce them to new flavors, but it is also my way of contributing to their development and growth." Seeing the children smile as they taste her dishes, hearing a spontaneous "thank you," is for her an invaluable gift. "When you give with love, children feel it. It helps them feel secure and thrive fully."

She takes pride in spreading positivity around her, accompanying them in their daily lives, and even teaching them a few cooking secrets.

Her role has always extended beyond the kitchen. She taught cooking classes to the village girls—such as chayote dumplings—a skill passed down step by step, so they would become independent. Her own children attended the same nursery. She watched her own grow up in the same hallways where she worked; these moments strengthened her attachment to her vocation and her extended family.

Through every meal, she also transmits values she considers essential: politeness, gratitude, respect. She reminds the children of the importance of saying thank you. Because every gesture of attention counts and contributes to forming responsible and caring adults.

What measures 35 years better than any assessment are the returns. Adults who have left the village, sometimes even the country, who return one day. They always ask her the same question: "Miss Maria, SOS! Ou touzour fer ou bon ziromon pwason sale?" She recounts this with a big smile. The taste memory of childhood. For her, these returns are the most concrete proof of her role. A mark that remains.

For Miss Maria, the role of women who work in the kitchen is fundamental: "Recognizing the role of women like me is recognizing an essential foundation for children's well-being. Without that, nothing would be possible."

Mehzabeen who gives back what she received. Nadine who was chosen by someone. Miss Maria whose dishes survive the childhood of others.

Three women. Three ways to remain.