5 Questions with Jaida
Jaida is 11 years old and lives in Frankston. She always has to remember her birth year and add it up to remember how old she is. Her family is Scottish and Filipino.
Food is really important to Jaida and so is her family. Jaida is big-brained and loves learning.
No.1
Tell us a little bit about how your involvement with Project O came about.
I got involved with Project O at Mahogany Rise Primary School (where I attend) because the program happens there.
No.2
What first drew you to art as a platform for expression?
I like writing, but I love drawing the most. I like it because well, you can put your emotions into it. And if your drawing goes ‘wrong’ you can always turn it into something else.
No.3
What have you learned in your time working with Project O Frankston?
I’ve learnt how to speak in front of people more easily.
No.4
What is an integral part of creativity for you? What is your process with making the art that you do?
I guess for me, when I’m being creative it’s [a form of] venting. So I can focus on something else, rather than traumatic things. And that way I have something I can control.
No.5
What do you hope to see come out of your involvement with Project O? Any upcoming projects you’d like to let us know about?
I just enjoy learning all the new things. Most of the time, before Project O taught them to me, I didn’t really want to learn them, but after [I met them] it’s like ‘this is so fun!’
(Jaida (foreground) is pictured doing an iPhone filmmaking workshop with filmmaker mentor Nicky Akehurst)
Run by social change and arts org BighART, the Project O initiative is an award-winning gender equality project which supports young women to be change-makers in rural and disadvantaged communities.
On International Women’s Day, they are launching a new digital zine titled This Is Us, which features work from the many young women Project O has worked with.
Project O has run in 5 states and territories and is currently in Frankston (VIC), Roebourne (WA) and Northwest Tasmania.