Alumni Spotlight

Whether you have spent just a single year or a decade in the Valley, Sedbergh graduates are one of a kind. Challenged academically and physically, Sedbergh students learn not only about themselves but about others. With sound academic foundations, a strong sense of community and a commitment to make a positive contribution to society, Sedbergh graduates are very accomplished.

The Alumni Spotlight provides our small community not only with the opportunity to learn about our graduates but also to share in their accomplishments. Keep a sharp eye on this section of our site, we've got some fabulous stories lined up and we will be sharing them with you regularly. If you have any suggestions about whom we should be spot-lighting, please let us know at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Django Mazars '95
Django spent his high school years at Sedbergh, graduating from grade 12 in 1995. His parents, spent much of their careers working for Médecins Sans Frontières and NGOs in the developing world. Prior to and during his stay at Sedbergh, Django was already aware of the needs of the developing world.

Upon graduating, Django went to the Manchester University in the UK to become a civil and water engineer. " The taste for applied sciences and the curiosity which was required to undertake such studies was given to me during my stay in the Valley through the various classes, the projects we had to accomplish and the outdoor and sports activities [in which] we were involved."

Working as a foreign student in northern England was not easy, but by joining in various activities at the university, Django overcame the culture clash. "Communal life at Sedbergh improved my ability to insert myself in social activities and to share housing. The various housekeeping skills learned in huts and in the dorms definitely smoothed my passage!"

Django graduated with a BSc in 1999 and decided to travel the world for a bit. It was during this period that he understood his urge to put to use the skills he had acquired so that he could help in under-developed countries. He returned to the UK, took a MSc in environmental engineering coupled with project management focusing on humanitarian options. Once completed, he went out, with determination and high hopes, to get a job!

"Unfortunately, the professional world being what it is for young graduates, I was not initially able to enter a development organization, due to lack of experience, so I looked to more classical engineering firms and joined a consulting firm in the UK, working on flood mechanisms and defenses for the British Environment Ministry."

Ultimately, Django secured a position on a small project in Madagascar as a project manager. He and his partner Marie Pierre, moved to the equatorial island where he managed a small but very grass-roots water and sanitation project. Located on the foothills of the Anosian Range located in the southern region of the island, "The work involved travelling to remote rural communities by foot for extended periods in order to supervise the construction of shallow wells, spring catchment and individual sanitation facilities. Managing all the logistics for the work and the financial aspect of the project was our responsibility, including running a staff of nine. It was a real challenge. I thank Sedbergh for my ability to work in rough conditions - quinchee night, the Canadian Ski Marathon, rafting and the outdoor program gave me the drive and perseverance to succeed."

From Madagascar, Django and Marie Pierre found another mission in Malawi, located on the African mainland. Their previous experience allowed them to follow through with an extensive volume of work in a similar project covering a greater area and managing more staff. "We were able to implement 35 protected water points and over 1000 pit latrines per year and trained additional villagers to create committees in their own areas to manage the infrastructure. What we found is that in Africa one must be very organized and very flexible!"

That project over, Django and Marie Pierre are currently in France, rolling up their sleeves seeking new adventures. "Sedbergh taught me to accept and take on challenges. It also gave me a taste for managing people and activities. The hut program and growing from Juniors to Seniors gave all of us the opportunity to take on responsibilities. Teamwork and efficiency are a major focus of my current work and the Valley's experiences were great assets for this. Sedbergh made a real difference in my life and in the way I perceive the world."