Yasheena Raghoonundun Naojee : Spectacular Rise of a woman from Modest Background

If we could give a living example of beauty with brains, it would certainly be Yasheena Raghoonundun Naojee. Not only does she have charming and attractive features but she is also a specialist in the field of Training and Development. This former Mrs Mauritius Universe 2016 has lots to offer to the fashion world and the Mauritian community. 

Coming from a modest background, Yasheena Raghoonundun Naojee started her professional career at a very young age in the field of education and training. She holds a double degree and an MBA in Human Resource Development with Knowledge Management. 

After years of experience from both the public and private sectors and having worked on many international projects, she is now a specialist in the field of Training & Development.  Currently, she is working at the Ecole Hotelière Sir Gaëtan Duval where she delivers training in the field of Communication.

Along with her professional pathway, Yasheena has made a name for herself in the pageant and fashion world. In 2015, she became the first candidate in the Mrs Mauritius World to get three titles: Mrs Personality, 1st Runner Up Mrs Mauritius Universe and 2ndRunner Up- Mrs Mauritius World. In 2016, she won the title Mrs Mauritius Universe 2016. Since then, she has used this platform to promote her philanthropy and charity works.

Fashion world 

Yasheena was only 16-years-old when she did some training in Textile and Fashion Design. “In my spare time, I used to do fashion designing and I got the opportunity to live my passion, when the organizer of Mrs   Mauritius Pageant selected me to showcase my collection on the Mrs Mauritius Finalists at the Mrs Mauritius World & Universe Grand Finale 2017.” 

After stepping into the fashion world, in December 2017, she was among the 100 Most Influential Women in Mauritius in the category of Art, Culture, and Fashion & Entertainment, which motivated her to give the very best of herself. 

Women of Wonders: Empowering women 

As a Community Activist, who is motivated by the belief that each and every one must contribute in social and benevolent activities for a strong community and a vibrant and prosperous Mauritius, Yasheena has been volunteering in many charity projects like the Soup Kitchen Project, where soup is distributed to less fortunate children across Mauritius and the Second Chance Project, where street youngsters are trained in Adult Literacy and Numeracy and Life Skills courses to re-integrate society. “Thus in 2015, while inviting some parents to accompany their children for a life skills session, more mothers than fathers were present, then I realised why not tackle the very root to solve the issue, that is empowering one woman in each house, as by empowering a woman, we are empowering a whole family.”

After analyzing and identifying the needs for women in society, she developed specific programmes on health and fitness which she implemented on a pilot basis with the help of other volunteers and NGOs. “Due to lack of funds, it was very difficult, as half of my salary were being donated to fund the project because private companies refused to help, as we were not a registered NGO. Hence, in 2017, we registered the association and named it Women of Wonders (WOW). The main aim of the association is to promote a healthy life and attitude among women and whole communities through developing programmes that empower and inspire them to embrace their power, purpose, value and to contribute to society by being leaders in each and every area of their lives.” 

She reveals that WoW is an association working towards the emancipation and empowerment of women and gender equality with the aim to offer educational programs, resources and personal development opportunities to its members, to militate dynamically for emancipation of women, empower individuals and families to transform their future and strengthen their community as well as to promote and collaborate to support the activities in which women are actively engaged. 

The community activist confides that recently, they launched their Health and Fitness workshop at the Ayati Hotel, Flic en Flac. “The programme aims at making women and girls live in dignity; maintain a healthy lifestyle; have choices and equal opportunities. Through this programme, we are targeting to empower around 500 underprivileged women and young girls across Mauritius who will in turn serve as role models to others in the community.” 

She underlines that the Health and Fitness programme comprised five parts: The Mental and Emotional Health, Physical Health, Relational Health, Professional & Financial Health & Spiritual Health. “The workshop put forward some sport activities in which the members of all ages got the opportunity to participate. Women of Wonders is therefore inviting volunteer companies to partner with us in implementing this programme and we are also encouraging women and young girls of today to come forward to enroll in this programme. The application form can also be found on our Facebook page: WOW Ladies Club.” 

Dreams and future projects 

Yasheena has always been excited about benevolent work. “Through the Health & Fitness programme, I have worked to put together the different parts of the training & resources in a linked way. One of my core responsibilities is to help to give voice and empower the less fortunate members of the community to find their voice, their purpose on earth and the reason why they are born. It’s very important that the less fortunate women of our communities understand that they are important and they have rights too, and that their voices need to be heard. We should help them to find that voice. That’s what I want to achieve.” 

Her dream is to make her country a real paradise, a country free from prejudice in which the government is protecting each and every person’s opportunity and rights to pursue their dreams, a country that could be a shining example for the coming generation. For the year 2018, along with her organization, she is focusing on the Health and Fitness programme which is already a big project in itself and will be expanded depending on funding.