What did you do after you left ISL?
I moved to London to read for my Bachelor’s degree at University College London. I studied a course called ‘European Social and Political Sciences’, with Italian and Spanish. I ended up specializing in International Development and Relations and had the opportunity to conduct ethnographic field work in Cambodia for my thesis. It was a 4-year degree, with my third year spent abroad at the University of Bologna in Italy.

After UCL, I read for a Master’s degree in Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation at the University of Oxford. There I specialized in the prevention of abuse against children, and sex trafficking in particular. I wrote my thesis on the reintegration into society of survivors of sexual trafficking.

What did you study at University?
A mix of political and social sciences, languages and policy making.

What are you doing now?
I work with victims of human trafficking and modern slavery. I am currently the Area Manager of the Modern Slavery Response Team for a charity called Hestia, in London.

Prior to joining Hestia and during my educational years, every summer I worked on the frontline with vulnerable children in Cambodia who were trafficked for labour and sex, with an international charity called PSE (Pour un Sourire d’Enfant). It is there that I was first exposed to trafficking and child abuse, and my interest grew from then on.

After graduating from Oxford, I joined Hestia’s Modern Slavery Response Team. This charity is subcontracted by the government to deliver support to all victims of human trafficking and modern slavery in London, who are in the National Referral Mechanism (the framework of identification and support for victims of Modern Slavery in the UK). I worked on the frontline with survivors for 9 months. The women and men I worked with had literally just escaped their traffickers or had just been identified by the police in a brothel or cannabis farm raid.  My job consisted in supporting them to access their rights under European Law, find them housing, financial support, access to education and healthcare, and a solicitor to regulate their immigration situation if necessary. It was all about supporting them towards independence and empowerment after the huge trauma they had endured. It was pretty hands-on work, and incredibly rewarding. I loved that my job consisted of helping people get their lives back on track and I have met some incredibly strong women.

After 9 months, I was promoted to Team Leader, where I line-managed a team of 12 frontline advocates. I was a Team Leader when the first COVID lockdown hit us. 9 months in and I was promoted again to Service Manager, where I line-managed 40 people, and I am today the Area Manager of the entire project and team. I have 180 staff under my responsibility, and have accountability for compliance with contracts, government and contractor relations, budget, staffing etc.

Do you think that your time at ISL helped you pursue this? If yes, how?
Absolutely! I was very fortunate to attend ISL on a scholarship. I would not have been able to join without this funding, and I truly believe that I am where I am today thanks to the confidence ISL gave me. ISL always encouraged me to aim high, and it is thanks to ISL that I ended up at UCL and then Oxford.

I also organically developed a certain emotional intelligence during my time at ISL thanks to being in such a culturally diverse and stimulating environment, and that has definitely helped in my career as a people manager.

What advantages has studying at ISL given you?
Studying at ISL helped me nurture my curiosity. I was in the French educational system prior to joining ISL and the differences in culture and mindset between the two educational systems are massive. At ISL, you’re taught to question why things are the way they are and you’re encouraged to go find the answers. I absolutely loved that about my Biology, Chemistry and History classes. We always had opportunities to deep-dive into a particular topic and go do our own research. I remember doing my Extended Essay in History on the accountability of the French government during a round up of Jews in the Vichy Regime.

ISL and the IB also prepared me for university like no other school. I found my first year at university particularly easy as I already knew how to structure, research and reference essays. The many Extended Essays we did were incredibly helpful in preparing me for that.

What advice would you give students to help them make the most of their time at ISL?
The teachers and staff are incredibly welcoming and supportive. Use them as a source of knowledge and support. You can really rely on them, so don’t ever sit alone with any stress or anxiety, just reach out to them!

Were you involved in any clubs/activities at ISL? What did you enjoy about them and what benefit do you think they have for students?
Track and field. I loved feeling part of a team and doing something outside my comfort zone.

How did your time at ISL help shape you as a person?
It taught me to aim high and believe in myself. It cultivated my passion for travelling and learning about different cultures too.

What do you think is unique about ISL?
The staff, the level of support and time people have for you, the environment, the friendships you make.

If you could thank a teacher or staff member, who would it be?
There are so many that left a lasting mark on me, but I’d love to thank Mme Aminot (who left ISL a while ago now), Mr. Penn & Mr. Ertel. They are the most passionate teachers I’ve ever met and have all the time in the world for their students.

I would like to thank everyone at ISL in general for granting me a scholarship. I will always be grateful for the opportunity I had to attend such an amazing school.

Describe ISL in 5 words:
Inclusive, Supportive, Opportunities, Community, Development.