2020, a special year. At Petit Journal Singapore, activity was intense and rich. Far from an anxiety-provoking news, we have increased the number of meetings and exchanges. Far from the pandemic, we have honored talented women from our French community in Singapore. 2020 has changed our habits, some of us have had to reinvent our profession or change our projects. Among the very many women who crossed our path, 20 particularly marked our edition. For their creativity in the midst of a pandemic, for their project, for their generosity! Here they are.
Yasmina Vally, passion for theater
The theatrical activity in Singapore is rich. Many companies regularly offer plays throughout the year in several venues. From a French-speaking point of view, several companies are present in the region, such as The Theater Factory, Belle Epoque or Sing’Theatre for musicals. But there are also other enthusiasts, independents who are less in the spotlight. Lepetitjournal went to meet Yasmina Vally, who arrived in Singapore 2 years ago, and who gives acting lessons.
There is one group that we hear more and more often in Singapore: the French of Asian origin, Commonly called the “bananas” which come together within the Association of Francophone Asians in Singapore (AFAS) created two years ago. Meeting with one of the organizers, Thyda Hausheer, French of Asian origin living in Singapore
If you go for an early morning stroll in Singapore’s Botanic Garden, you will often see a group of adults, guided by a French speaking lady, making wide and slow gestures on an oriental musical basis. This lady is Pascale Jenart, Belgian, and founder of Chi Balance, a Qi Gong and Qi Healing center.
Laurence Onfroy grew up in a family of globe trotters. She has lived in Africa, Europe, Asia, and has always oriented her professional choices internationally. The desire for elsewhere, the spirit of travel inhabit it; they are his passion. Committed by nature, she likes to defend causes that seem right to her. The common thread of his career? Entrepreneurship to create, bring together and work to improve our society, and give meaning to its actions. His next project in Singapore? The launch of the Women Initiative Foundation in Asia.
Lepetitjournal.com had the pleasure of meeting artist-researcher Isabelle Desjeux at the heart of the HDBs of Lengkok Bahru. His exhibition “Pinhole in the Neighborhood” will soon end after 3 months of active presence, taming of children bathed in local culture, transmission of knowledge and highlighted curiosity. Photography is approached in its most basic aspects, the pinhole, manipulated and completed by the children themselves. Isabelle is a passionate person who fascinates by integrating her curiosity as a researcher into the naive discovery of art.
It is fate that brings Béatrice Caisson to Singapore. Her sister Lila lives there and she comes to visit her in 2009. Speaking with her, she understands that Tahitian culture is absolutely not represented on the island. Beatrice and her sister love to dance and in doing so, Beatrice feels a deep desire to reconnect with her country. She decides to stay and create her dance school.
It was her work that brought Julie Demange-Wodtke to Singapore. In 2006, then residing in Denmark, she applied for a position as a teacher of music education and choral singing at the Lycée Français de Singapour (now the International French School of Singapore) and packed her bags. At the beginning, she taught in classes from CP to 3rd and has over 700 students! The high school choir did not yet exist.
His energy is stimulating, his tenacity admirable, his outspokenness refreshing. His motto? “Our differences are our wealth”. Brilliant and visionary, Emmy Tellier is Vice-President of Blancpain for South-East Asia (excluding Thailand) and Vice-President of the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore where she also chairs the “Premium and Luxury Retail” Committee . Portrait by Lepetitjournal.com of the most French of Indonesian women.
Lepetitjournal.com from Singapore met Véronique Denis-Pelliet, President of the Committee of Foreign Trade Advisers (CCE) in Singapore to understand the workings of the institution and the functioning of the CCE Committee of Singapore, which, with 60 Advisors, represents the second most important committee in Asia after China.
In Singapore for nearly two years, dancer, musician, director, curator, Véronique Sapin brings together in one person all genres of performing arts… and not only! Lepetitjournal.com had the chance to meet her!
After 4 years in the pharmaceutical industry, Caroline Bard left France to work in the region that has always made her dream: Asia. Caroline Bard not only realized her dream but in just 5 years she succeeded in becoming Managing Director of the company she joined as an intern in Vietnam. She explains her background and tells us why Singapore is ideal for her business. She also gives us her opinion on the impact of digital for pharmaceutical companies.
Isabelle Le Bon-Poonoosamy was born in Mauritius, where she returned, after having grown up and completed studies in Management & Finance in Paris. With her husband and their two daughters, she lived in Abu Dhabi for a long time before arriving in Singapore in 2018. Lepetitjournal.com from Singapore met Isabelle following a BodyTalk session, because we want to know more…
Author-photographer, painter, Pascale Monte-Papée also excels in the field of sculpture. By small touches, almost apologizing, Pascale allows herself to reveal her multiple artistic talents to the general public. Without renouncing her profession of consultant and coach in human resources. After a much appreciated photo exhibition in Singapore, in January 2019, on life in the lilongs of Shanghai, his second Soul of Asia project is ready to come to life next September at the Selegie Art Center, owned by the historic photography club. of the city-state. Zoom on a woman of spirit, generous, humanist and accomplished.
The start of 2020 will have been tumultuous for all and for the reasons that everyone knows. For Nathalie Ribette too! Elected winner of the 2020 “Culture – Art of Living” prize, awarded by Courrier International (Le Monde group) of the French Abroad Trophies organized by lepetitjournal.com in February 2020, Nathalie can finally enjoy her reward!
Arriving in Singapore in August 2018 from Johannesburg where she has spent the last 4 years, Juliette has a difficult transition arriving here. With her head still in Africa while her feet are in Asia, it takes her a year to find her feet and finally start writing her second book. Trained as a Graphotherapist-GGRE, Juliette wants to quickly practice her profession and joins Dynamics in March 2019, where she divides her time between her little patients and a writing activity that is close to her heart. She practices writing on both substance and form! Lepetitjournal.com met Juliette to find out more about her two sides.
When two passionate people leave their comfort zones to live their dreams, it gives rise to an inspiring book for young people. An incredible story made up of journeys and commitments to open the mind, watercolor drawings of infinite accuracy to take the reader on an adventure, this is what The Round the World Wanderer will bring to the youngest and to each in general. A nice lesson in life offered by Sandra Marichal and Fanny Ozda.
Born under the Nice sun, Julie studied Art, Communication and Language at the Faculty of Letters, then pursued a Master 2 in Marketing & Communication, followed by a 6-month internship in China, in Beijing, in 2007. This is the year before the Olympic Games, the city is feverish with renovations and preparations. Julie meets there lots of young people of her age, born after the generation of the only child; they both have jobs and they are all full of dreams …
Marie Dailey, in Singapore since 2006, is a teacher at the Lycée Français. At the same time, since January 2020, with the creation of an online site, she has been offering her photographs of Singapore for sale. With the collaboration of graphic designer Lola Jolivet, Marie has just produced a photo book entitled “Daily Singapore”, which is dedicated to “street photography” which depicts a Singapore different from the one we are used to seeing in books that promote the city-state.
In Singapore for 7 years, Mireille Giraud, whom everyone here calls “Mimi”, is a great wine enthusiast. She has just created A Wine Adventure which offers masterclasses to learn how to taste wine while having fun, but also an online store with accessories and gifts around wine, and a complete selection of organic wines to order. Lepetitjournal.com from Singapore went to meet him, to learn more about his journey and the original concept of “A Wine Adventure”.
Journalist before arriving in Singapore in 2014, Aude Giraud alias Flanery is dedicated to the development of an activity linked to nature and beauty by opening a boutique of floral arrangements, Ask a French. She works above all to measure and makes each bouquet and floral arrangement a special moment, a poetic message. We are quite far from a purely commercial approach, the delicacy and the discreet and elegant beauty of his compositions quickly obtain a great success and a fairly loyal and varied clientele.
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