WORDS by KATARINA MANCAMA | IMAGES SUPPLIED by JESS DE BOER
The Elephant and the Bee is the memoir of a young Kenyan girl, Jess de Boer, whose lifelong quest to change the world leads her deep into the unknown, round the bend and then back again. The book follows the hilarious journey of our wide-eyed modern day explorer and visionary as she tackles the enormous challenges of aid in Africa, environmental concerns and conservation issues, with all the internet-derived hubris of today’s youth.
Jess de Boer is described as a “20-something girl with big Oprah-esque dreams”. HTWE content editor Katarina Mancama chatted to her about her first book, “triumphant failures” and how to save the world.
KM: What inspired you to write a book about your adventures and “triumphant failures”?
JdB: To be honest I never set out with the intention of writing this – or any book. However, I have always enjoyed writing and found that in the early days I simply needed to jot down my thoughts and experiences as a way of grasping some clarity in this big, noisy world.
The book itself came about through a sequence of gloriously random events that began with a single conversation with a woman who unbeknownst to me was a literary agent … and things just kind of snowballed from there.
When the book indeed became a ‘Book’ I chose the sub title “On saving the world and other triumphant failures” because that’s what I wanted to do: to make a difference, to be the change all those words that sound so good and mean so much … and today when I look back on that somewhat egotistical ambition I can only smile. Not because I have gone ahead and changed the world – but because for so many people out there, those childhood dreams and desires don’t ever just happen. You have to work hard, fight like hell, fail a gabillion times over and over and then from somewhere deep within continue to find the strength to pick yourself up and carry on.
I wanted to inspire other people by personalising this universal human craving for happiness; to create some awareness of the world we live in today and to contribute my voice to the growing collection of young people out there who 100% believe in a better future.
KM: How would you summarise your book in your own words?
JdB: This book is a collection of stories that follow my sporadic journey from childhood (where my plan was to save the world) to semi-adulthood – spanning several years and indeed continents in a quest for happiness and a shot at contributing to a better world.
KM: What have been your most triumphant failure and success to date?
JdB: I guess that all depends on your definition of those two words but in the eyes of your hot shot entrepreneur with the world at his/her fingertips perhaps the triumphant failure part involves the image of a short, blonde girl (now aged 30) who lives at home with her parents, has no idea of where or when the next pay cheque will arrive from and who STILL believes she can make a difference …
The triumphant success of that very same image is perhaps harder to visualise as it involves a feeling deep down inside the gut of that very same girl; we ALL have that ability to contribute something, to enhance the world around us and to spread some goodness. That feeling gets me up every day with a tingle in my toes and a pretty big grin on my face.
KM: We have recently seen some less-than-triumphant failures at both “saving the world” and writing a book about it. What is your biggest advice to someone that wants to “bring about positive change”?
JdB: Breathe. Calm. Focus. Begin.
We truly recommend this fantastic book by an amazing woman. It will entertain, humble and inspire you.
“This book is a hurricane of energy; at times funny, sad, ridiculous and educational, a catalogue of advice, hard fought lessons and instructions for anyone out there who believes in their ability to stand up, shout out and attempt to make a difference.” (publisher Jacaranda)
