Jeanne Barret and Commerson
A woman of courage, wisdom and freedom
The Jeanne Barret School takes its name from an extraordinary woman: Jeanne Barret, the first woman to have circumnavigated the globe in the 18th century.
Born into poverty in the heart of the Morvan, Jeanne grew up surrounded by nature. From a very early age, she took an interest in plants, learning to identify them and use them for healing and nourishment. This passion led her to become a botanist, working alongside the physician and naturalist Philibert Commerson.
When he was chosen to accompany the explorer Louis-Antoine de Bougainville on his great round-the-world expedition, Jeanne refused to stay ashore. At a time when women were not allowed to board ships, she decided to disguise herself as a man to live out her dream: to explore, learn and discover.
Under the name “Jean Barret”, she set sail on La Boudeuse and crossed the oceans, collecting and describing numerous plant species that were previously unknown. It was during this expedition that the bougainvillea flower was discovered, which has since become a symbol of beauty, resilience and discovery.
Having landed in Mauritius (then known as Île de France) after her cover was blown, Jeanne continued her botanical exploration mission. It was there that she brought her extraordinary adventure to a close, leaving behind the image of a woman who was courageous, passionate and free , a pioneer who dared to defy convention in order to learn about and understand the world.
A name that embodies values
Through this name, our school pays tribute to all the courageous women who paved the way, often behind the scenes. Jeanne Barret embodies the values we wish to instil in our pupils:
- A curiosity to learn and explore,
- The courage to stand by one’s convictions,
- Freedom to be oneself,
- And belief in one’s potential, regardless of one’s background or life journey.
The bougainvillea, the symbol of our school
On our logo, the bougainvillea flower serves as a reminder both of Bougainville’s expedition and of Jeanne’s connection with Mauritius, where she ended her journey.
But it is also a vibrant, colourful and resilient flower that blooms in the sunshine — just like the children we support every day.
“There is only one thing that can make a dream impossible: the fear of failure.”
Paulo Coelho
