[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":127},["ShallowReactive",2],{"collection-portrait":3},[4],{"id":5,"title":6,"body":7,"description":114,"extension":115,"floatImageLeft":116,"floatImageRight":116,"heroImage":116,"images":117,"isAd":119,"meta":120,"multipleImages":116,"navigation":121,"objectPosition":116,"ogDescription":116,"ogTitle":116,"order":116,"path":122,"seo":123,"stem":124,"tagName":125,"__hash__":126},"portrait/portrait/wild-at-heart.md","Wild At Heart",{"type":8,"value":9,"toc":111},"minimark",[10],[11,12,14],"article-layout",{":title":13},"title",[15,16,18,24,33,37,40,43,46,49,52,64,71,86,93,96],"template",{"v-slot:content":17},"",[19,20,21],"h1",{"id":17},[22,23],"binding",{"value":13},[25,26,27],"p",{},[28,29,30],"em",{},[22,31],{"value":32},"description",[34,35],"article-image",{":image":36},"articles/portrait/hero.webp",[25,38,39],{},"For 33 years, Dr Vilma D’Rozario walked the corridors of the NIE with a clear purpose: to shape teachers who would shape lives. Even after leaving in 2018, she remains deeply connected with the Institute, grateful for the support and opportunities it had given her.",[25,41,42],{},"Early in her academic career, Dr D’Rozario taught at an all-girls secondary school. “I wasn’t much older than the girls, so they came to me with their problems and I spent a lot of time trying to help them. That’s when I realised I needed professional counselling skills,” she recounted.",[25,44,45],{},"That experience led her to pursue a Master’s in Counselling and Counsellor Education at Indiana University, supported by her mother, herself a teacher for 40 years. Upon her return, Dr D’Rozario joined the NIE at a pivotal moment, as pastoral care started rolling out across Singapore schools. “The idea of a whole-of-school approach to pastoral care really resonated with me. Every teacher was expected to be a counsellor, and everyone needed to know basic helping skills,” she recalled.",[25,47,48],{},"With the benefit of her counsellor education in Indiana, Dr D’Rozario joined an MOE study trip to learn about pastoral care implementation in England. “We followed up by designing programmes to teach pastoral care, counselling, and career guidance to Singapore school teachers.” Soon after, Dr D’Rozario was offered an NIE Staff Development Scholarship to pursue a PhD in Counselling Psychology at the University of Minnesota. This allowed her to deepen her expertise and eventually advance to the position of Sub-Dean of Counselling and Student Development at the NIE.",[25,50,51],{},"Yet when she reflects on her most rewarding moments at the NIE, it wasn’t the job titles but the chance to create and shape service-learning programmes. In the early 2000s, she helped develop what would become today’s Group Endeavours in Service Learning (GESL) programme, and expanded overseas service-learning opportunities for student teachers. Her involvement with Project LoveSikkim in North India further exemplified this approach, where students learned from communities and about themselves, whilst serving. “For me, a little over 20 years on, the most meaningful part is hearing how these programmes have impacted people’s lives,” she beamed.",[25,53,54,55,59,60,63],{},"Alongside her work in education, another passion quietly took root. “Back in the States, the open spaces and wild landscapes moved my soul. When I came back to Singapore, I thought I would just die without that beautiful expanse of nature,” she lamented. At her NIE colleagues’ suggestions, she joined the Nature Society Singapore, where she learned about Singapore’s rich biodiversity, and moved on to chair its education group, launching initiatives like ",[56,57,58],"strong",{},"Fun with Nature"," before branching out to co-found ",[56,61,62],{},"Cicada Tree Eco Place",", which focused on nature, culture and eco-living. “On weekdays, I taught counselling; on weekends, I shared nature with children and their families. Turns out, it was all still education,” she laughed.",[25,65,66,67,70],{},"One figure who strongly influenced her practice was the late Dr Jane Goodall. Dr D’Rozario was a founding member of the Jane Goodall Institute’s Singapore Chapter in 2007 and supported its work for several years. “I’m her fan, of course. We even share the same birthday,” she smiled with pride. “What I loved about Dr Goodall was the respect she had for all living beings. She practiced what she preached, and she showed us why conservation must involve communities, youth and education. She believed that every person matters, and that every individual has a role to play, and you can choose your role to make the world a better place.” In particular, Dr Goodall’s ",[56,68,69],{},"Roots & Shoots"," programme struck a familiar chord. “It’s essentially youth-led service-learning for the good of people, animals and the environment!” Dr D’Rozario cheered.",[25,72,73,74,77,78,81,82,85],{},"Inspired by Dr Kae Kawanishi’s tiger conservation work, Dr D’Rozario took her passion for wildlife further by co-founding ",[56,75,76],{},"Singapore Wildcat Action Group",", which rallies volunteers to take action for wildcat conservation. Her time now is spent working with Malaysian tiger conservation groups. One such group is the ",[56,79,80],{},"Malaysian Conservation Collective"," where she and her team recruit citizen conservationists to travel to Pahang to do anti-poaching surveillance walks called ",[56,83,84],{},"Trek for Tigers",". “It’s truly an adventure. We join our Malaysian partners in protecting wildlife and restoring habitats by planting trees. You gain so much from the experience, not just about wildlife, but about working with communities,” she gushed.",[25,87,88,89,92],{},"At 69, Dr D’Rozario remains actively involved, arranging trips, fundraising, mentoring youth as well as contributing to ",[56,90,91],{},"Singapore’s Nature Conservation Masterplan",". As a nature advocate, she hopes that all Singapore’s wild spaces will be better conserved. One dream remains especially close to her heart: “I hope to see a National Species Action Plan for leopard cats in Singapore.”",[25,94,95],{},"Her advice for teachers is simple: lead by example. “You must experience nature yourself. Only then can you share and protect it.” She encourages all teachers to get involved in the many nature conservation programmes run by government and non-government agencies here. “Join our next Trek for Tigers!” she teased cheekily. “Not everyone can be Jane Goodall. And if you don’t like going into the forest, there are other ways to help. Every role matters,” she emphasised.",[97,98,99],"article-box-content",{},[25,100,101,102,110],{},"Learn more about Dr D’Rozario’s cause by following Singapore Wildlife Action Group ",[103,104,109],"a",{":target":105,"href":106,"rel":107},"_blank","https://www.instagram.com/swag.cat.sg/",[108],"nofollow","@swag.cat.sg",".",{"title":17,"searchDepth":112,"depth":112,"links":113},2,[],"In line with the theme of Women Who Lead and Inspire, NIEWS talks to former NIE associate professor Dr Vilma D’Rozario about her journey from shaping future educators to championing nature conservation in Singapore.","md",null,[118],{"resource":36},false,{},true,"/portrait/wild-at-heart",{"title":6,"description":114},"portrait/wild-at-heart","Portrait","0i74Oih_UQVjPmJy38Yo5bWNd0l-YOrL_YGuby9qY6w",1772594598292]