Sébastien Rojo

Committed to Giving All Youngsters a Taste for Surpassing Themselves

Considered by many as a simply exceptional person, Sébastien Rojo chose to devote his physical and mental energies to young people a long time ago. Born in France, an elite athlete and former member of the national handball and ski teams, Sébastien decided to head to Québec in 2003 in order to take his commitment to young people one step further.

The 34-year-old strives continuously to put theory into practice: he is currently pursuing a doctorate in education at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC), after obtaining a master’s degree for which he wrote his dissertation on young high school teachers who leave the profession, and a bachelor’s in outdoor recreation and tourism. Be it as the head coach of the Canadian telemark ski team, the coach of the best local tae kwon do hopefuls or an outdoor activities guide with the Coopérative d’intervention par la nature et l’aventure du Québec (INAQ), Sébastien offers a helping hand, accompanying youngsters and giving them the desire to surpass themselves. And to attain his goal, he chose sports and nature as his main tools.

“I have always believed that our natural surroundings and the context of adventure provide the means of bringing about significant change in people. And this approach has also motivated me to get involved with various clienteles from all walks of life,” Sébastien explains.

For example, he accompanied a group of young Aboriginals on a 21-day mountain excursion during which they hiked close to 300 kilometres. Aimed at fighting obesity and diabetes, the project had a direct impact on the youngsters’ physical and mental health. “Thanks to the various activities carried out during the trek, these objectives were attained, but more importantly, it greatly bolstered the youngsters’ self-esteem,” he spontaneously declares.

And then there’s Sébastien’s involvement with the Lise Thibault Foundation as a sit-ski and dualski instructor working with physically impaired young people, and again with the Association québécoise des enfants aphasiques, providing support to children with language and learning disabilities who often feel rejected. “Adventure activities and the great outdoors give youngsters the chance to participate in enriching experiences that considerably improve their relationships with their peers, help them express their emotions, see the value of differences and better control their frustrations,” explains the doctoral student.

“Sébastien Rojo is one of those people who set themselves apart not only through their sports and academic achievements, but also through their commitment to the community. Above all, he is dedicated to making his mark by doing his part and giving the youngsters he meets a slightly clearer perspective,” points out Sylvain Turgeon, executive director of INAQ.

The UQAC student, who has a hard time staying put without new challenges to take up and projects to carry out, was recently given the task of reviving competitive handball in the Saguenay Lac-Saint-Jean region. Drawing inspiration from his extensive experience and the confidence his region of adoption has in him, Sébastien also aspires to establish his own company specializing in adventure expeditions and first aid training in the near future.

Sébastien Rojo