After spending her childhood in India and living in various countries of Europe and Africa, she came to settle down in Mauritius in 1965 with her husband. ?After having lived on several continents, I found the country poor and backward when I first got here. People had a very insular attitude and the sense of being on an island was very strong. I had also never seen such open racism, which is something I cannot accept.? Far from being discouraged, she taught in Loreto Curepipe for 20 years. She only stopped when she moved with her family to Kenya because of her husband?s job. Even then, during the 12 years they spent over there, Paula Atchia came back for two years to start Le Bocage International High School.

Setting up schools seems to have been the job for her, suiting her energetic nature and very communicative personality. When she came back here for good from Kenya in 1996, she established Père Laval College in Sainte- Croix, a school for CPE under-achievers. ?Instead of hanging around in the streets, the boys came to school and learnt something. Today the school is doing very well with about 300 students.? Northfields International High School is another of her many success stories.

Paula Atchia?s great hobby is reading, but she is also a lover of animals. She tells us about how she had a pet snake when she was in India! ?My pets are like my children?, she points out, caressing a little kitten she rescued some time ago. Indeed it?s striking how the animals in her house all play around together, without any of the usual cat versus dog fights. ?I like to observe the interaction between animals. They have elemental reactions such as emotional bonding, which, in many ways, I find reflected in human reactions.? She?s also attentive to teaching children the value of taking care of animals and the environment.

When asked about the changes she?s noticed in Mauritius since she first came here, Paula Atchia says ?there?s been an improvement in material prosperity, but unfortunately accompanied by all the negative sides that come with it such as violence, crime and corruption. Mauritius is a richer place, but not a nicer place. It was more charming before, when people were more honest, straightforward and welcoming.?

Paula Atchia is renowned among her friends for her hospitality, generosity and sense of humour. Indeed there?s no one who enjoys a good laugh as much as her. She doesn?t only see the negative side to life in Mauritius: what she enjoys here is Mauritian food! ?On a more serious level, I also have learnt a lot from the strong sense of family values here. I find it very positive how Mauritians celebrate religious and family functions together because it creates a sense of nationhood.?