After six years of highly dedicated work, it is time for Hélène Huard, PN Philippines’ previous General Manager to leave Cebu. While packing, she gave us some of her time…
Hello Hélène, after 6 years working at Passerelles numériques (PN) Philippines, you are leaving your position as General Manager. Could you share with us your feelings as we say goodbye?
For the first 3 years, I have been in charge of the selection process, looking for young talents, poor and deserving students around the Visayas region. I was also in charge of designing students’ daily life at the center: their community life, their study time, etc. Then in 2013, I took the lead of the PN Philippines project. PNP started 6 years ago with 4 staff and 25 students. Today it’s 25 staff, 214 students and 192 alumni! It has been a long, tough and amazing journey.
Today it is obviously hard for me to say goodbye but I am really proud of what we have achieved all together during those years.
Hélène taking part in the selection process in one of the information sessions.
We would love to hear you most unforgettable experience at Passerelles numériques!
There are many of course! I have unforgettable memories of all the celebrations and parties we had with the staff and the students: birthdays, departures, Christmas, Graduations… Filipinos have this unique way of dancing, singing, laughing, celebrating and a great ability to share good times and hard times.
More specifically, I guess the first graduation of our 24 students in March 2012 will remain long in my heart: the pride, the joy but also the emotion of letting them go, leave the PN center to join their new life as IT professionals. I guess we were all thinking: “It is happening! They did it! They changed their destiny!”
Hélène with some of the students of Class 2017.
You strongly contributed to the project along the years. What is your greatest pride?
During those 6 years, I have been driven by a main goal: offering a quality educational program to PN Philippines students; where each student is known and loved for him or herself, where each student can reveal his or her potential, not only in IT but as a person, as a young adult. I guess that, even if it is a never ending goal for Passerelles numériques, I am proud of my contribution to this ambitious mission.
Do you have any plans after Passerelles numériques?
I am going back to France with my Filipino husband, Richard, starting our new life from scratch. I am planning to join a school. Education is my passion… so, I guess that after serving Filipino teenagers for several years, I want to contribute to French initiatives! A lot of upcoming challenges!
The last word is yours! What message would you like to share with PN Philippines’ staff? And with the students?
To the students… I wish them to hold on to their dreams, to keep their drive high, to never forget why they joined PN and to keep striving hard. Finally, to hold on to our demanding and beautiful values of solidarity, responsibility and trust!
To the alumni… I wish them to achieve great things, not only as professionals but as persons. I wish them a fulfilling life, dedicated to their friends, family and country. I also wish they don’t forget PN and find ways to give back in one way or another.
To the team… I wish them to keep going with the burning fire they have inside. Each of them is a living example of generosity and dedication.
To Eléonore Iriart, who recently replaced me, I wish her to love her students and her team despite the struggles she will surely encounter! I wish her to bring this project further, revealing its full potential by playing a major role in the IT education sector in Cebu! The Philippines is an amazing country, I do hope she will enjoy its people and its deep lessons it can teach!
Hélène’s last few moments with PN Philippines’ staff.