“She turned every challenge into an opportunity to teach, every moment into a lesson, and every person into a story of potential.”
Introduction
Dr. Gayeetree Kumaree Ramchurn Samboo’s life has been full of grace, grit, and growth. Her story is a perfect example of a womanhood who has dedicated her life to helping others. She is widely known as a pioneering Human Values–Based Educator, an international Trainer of Trainers, a mentor to educators and high-level officers in ministries, a motivational speaker, writer, composer, and a national advocate for value-driven leadership. Her story isn’t just a list of her accomplishments; it’s a heartfelt look at what happens when passion and purpose come together. Her mission has been to awaken consciousness, strengthen families, shape leaders, and uplift communities through value-based education and transformative learning.
Dr. Gayeetree draws great inspiration from Sri Narendra Modi Ji, an embodiment of an inspiring leader, grounded in spirituality and dedicated to serving the nation. His practice of human values and reverence for his mother deeply resonate with Dr. Gayeetree’s own mission of empowering individuals and communities through values-based education and leadership. She believes that true leadership comes from serving others and living with a deep sense of responsibility towards one’s country and its people.
Dr. Gayeetree was born with a natural sense of empathy and responsibility towards others. She learnt early on that serving humanity is the only way to find true happiness. Her professional journey took shape through her deep involvement with the Indian Ocean Centre for Education in Human Values (IOCEHV), where she developed structured training programmes, human values curricula, and holistic leadership modules. Her work with the Ministry of Education, Early Childhood Care and Education Authority (ECCEA), Mauritius Institute of Education (MIE), Ministry of Youth & Sports, National Youth Council, Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development & Family Welfare, National Women’s Council, Ministry of Environment and her role in the National Leadership Engine Project at NPCC have been important turning points in her career. These platforms helped her turn her love of leadership and education into real action. Through these initiatives, she trained educators, trainers, youth leaders, and public officers, equipping them with tools for emotional intelligence, value-based decision-making, and conscious leadership.
Her collaboration with the Early Childhood Care & Education Authority and the Mauritius Institute of Education was significant to her, as early childhood is a key phase for human development.
Working closely with the Ministry of Youth & Sports was essential, given that youth are regarded as the future leaders of the nation. She provided values-based education designed to cultivate character development and nurture responsible citizens. Her training programmes were specifically tailored according to the SSEHV philosophy, which aims to highlight inherent values and the potential for personal growth within individuals. Her training sessions became transformative spaces where individuals learnt to align personal growth with social responsibility. She encouraged participants to build inner strength, cultivate ethical clarity, and contribute positively to their communities.
“Kindness is the first language of leadership; it speaks before words and stays long after actions fade.”
PHASE 1: Where Kindness Began
Dr. Gayeetree Kumaree Ramchurn Samboo’s background stems from an environment defined by strong values, kindness, and a commitment to goodwill. Before assuming her roles as a mentor, leader, and motivator, she was an observant child who noted respectful interactions among elders, the community spirit fostered through considerate actions, and acts of kindness that brought people together. These early experiences played a significant role in shaping her empathy and professional principles. They laid the foundation for the Human Values philosophy that she would later integrate into educational settings, governmental ministries, and national programmes.
Dr. Gayeetree learnt from a young age that being kind was more than just a nice thing to do; it was a way of life. Her parents were essential to her, and she learned discipline and love from them. They taught her to be humble, patient, and selfless, and that respect is earned through understanding rather than authority. They also taught her that true strength is reflected in how gently one can treat others. Every story told at home and every blessing shared at the dinner table taught her gratitude without needing words. These experiences shaped her inner compass, later becoming the guiding principles behind her work in values-based education and leadership development.
She was always thoughtful, even as a child. Teachers remember her as calm but curious, always willing to help others without seeking anything in return. When her friends hesitated to take responsibility, she would quietly step forward to ensure no one was left behind. That early desire to lead, listen, and lift others was the first sign of the leadership that would define her life. Her natural inclination to support and guide others foreshadowed her future role as a national trainer and educator who would mentor thousands.
Dr. Gayeetree was born and raised in Mauritius, an island renowned for its rich cultural diversity and variety of perspectives and traditions. This environment cultivated her appreciation for others and promoted inclusivity over division.
“When you learn to listen, the whisper of purpose in your heart becomes louder.”
PHASE 2: Whispers of Purpose
As Dr. Gayeetree Kumaree Ramchurn Samboo entered her teenage years, the quiet kindness that had characterised her early life began to evolve into a more significant sense of purpose. During this time, she began to see the difference between living a life of comfort and one of purpose. While most of the people around her were focused on the usual paths of school and success, she was drawn to something deeper: a curiosity about the world, people, and the invisible thread that connects people through empathy and understanding. These reflections were the early signs of her future calling as a Human Values–Based Educator and mentor.
For her, school was never just about reading books and doing homework. She had a passion for Indian classical dance and music which played a significant role in bringing equilibrium between academic pursuits. It was about lessons learnt from life, like how other people have struggled, how people who gave little but smiled anyway, and how faith that small efforts could lead to big changes never wavered. Her teachers often noticed the change in her perspective. She didn’t just learn to get good grades; she learnt to grow. She thought of every experience, whether it was a debate, a cultural event, or a community project, as a chance to learn more about herself and the world around her. Her growing curiosity about human behaviour and inner transformation laid the foundation for her later work in values-based training and leadership education.
Dr. Gayeetree started to feel like her journey was taking her somewhere important while she was in college. She became more and more interested in the idea of leadership, not as a title or position, but as a way to bring people together for a common goal. She looked up to people who were humble leaders, who could listen before they spoke, and who had the guts to do things for other people. She started reading about great leaders and reformers and taking in their ideas, but she always saw them through her own compassionate lens. The seed of leadership that had been quietly growing in her was now starting to show itself clearly. Her academic years shaped the beginnings of the educator and trainer she would become—one who believed in empowering others through values and self-awareness.
“A leader is not someone who wants to shine alone; they are someone who helps others discover their light.”
PHASE 3: Becoming a Leader
Dr. Gayeetree Kumaree Ramchurn Samboo’s quiet purpose began to turn into confident leadership as she moved on to the next stage of her journey. This was a time of change, when faith and intent turned into action. She was no longer interested in finding out what she wanted to do; she was more interested in doing it with purpose and making a difference in the world around her.
It didn’t happen overnight that someone went from being a participant in youth programmes to being a leader among their peers. It came about naturally because of her hard work, consistency, and the respect she earned from others. Her ability to listen, reflect on her observations, and make decisions began to define her presence. People felt safe under her leadership because it wasn’t forced on them; it came from within. She didn’t tell people what to do; she showed them how to do it. People naturally trusted her because she was calm and clear-headed.
Dr. Gayeetree got more and more involved in programmes for young people and community groups during this time. Her growing reputation as a kind and reliable person led to more responsibilities. People often chose her to plan group activities, run training sessions, or lead campaigns in the community. Her unique style—grounded, organised, and warm—was present in every project she worked on. She believed that a good leader should be able to understand how other people feel and get things done.
She made sure that everyone on her team felt important.
Being a part of community projects taught her how to work with others. Since she was a child, she’s learnt to be patient, flexible, and emotionally intelligent, which has helped her work with people from different backgrounds. However, real-life problems now demonstrated these traits more clearly. She showed amazing balance when it came to managing resources, settling disagreements, or getting teams excited.
Note of Thanks
Dr. Gayeetree Kumaree Ramchurn Samboo thanks everyone who has been with her on her journey through life and her mission with a heart full of humility and warmth. Every milestone she has reached, every project she has started, and every change she has seen are all victories that were made possible by many people working together with the same goal in mind.
She thanks the Government of Mauritius, the Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare, and the National Productivity and Competitiveness Council (NPCC) from the bottom of her heart for believing in her vision and giving her the tools she needed to reach people’s hearts through education, leadership, and human values. Their ongoing trust and cooperation gave her work a national scope and helped her turn ideas into lasting change.
She is most grateful to the family of teachers, mentors, and youth leaders who were there for her as pillars of strength. The Indian Ocean Centre for Education in Human Values (IOCEHV) and the H.O.P.E. (Honour Our Parents Everyday) initiative have grown because of the passion and dedication of people who believed in her philosophy of service and love. Their hard work has made dreams come true and ideals into actions that will inspire generations to come.
She also wants to thank her students and young leaders, who became the most important part of her life. The best thing about her work has been their faith, curiosity, and desire to learn. Every student she taught, every young person she mentored, and every community she worked with showed her how much she had changed. They reminded her that leadership is a cycle of giving and receiving.
She is so thankful for her family—her husband, Mr. Anil Shankar, and their three children, Saivani, Saiksha, and Saishrika—that she can’t find the words to say it. They have always been there for her, helping her with her work and giving her peace of mind. Their presence in every kind act and every project she started shows that love and unity are still the most important parts of all meaningful work. Her daughters, now grown professionals in their fields, are also inspiring trainers in Human Values-Based Education, continuing her work by training the next generation.
Thanks
Dr. Gayeetree Ramchurn Samboo