Tania Jean Ward
Tania aims to bring about positive and sustainable changes for approximately 1000 people living in the area of the Minto community and the neighbouring suburbs by holding celebratory events for the community involving youth in a non-alcoholic environment. She represents the Daystar Foundation, an organization established in 2001 in response to a growing concern about disadvantaged children in the area. Tania’s goal is to reduce drinking behaviour and to provide a platform for their creative talents of local youth.
Her Action Plan is related to two major projects. “The ‘Garden of Healing’ will be a collaborative work that will encourage the contribution and involvement of members of the wider community.” It will incorporate a selection of plants from different regions of the world and species that have healing properties. The garden will also feature carved sculpture made by the students under the guidance of local elders and community members. Young people will be able to visually explore their cultural identity. The whole process of planning and setting up the program will include active participation of the students and the communities.
The idea for her second project, the ‘Street Theatre Production’ came to her mind as a result of a tragic suicide in the community of Minto. “Kids were speaking to me individually and collectively and expressing bizarre ideas and thoughts about the tragedies which made me very concerned. I am very well known in my community for the work that I do with children and therefore I felt compelled to battle the destructiveness of suicide and the idea that suicide is normal and ok. The project will bring about positive and sustainable changes in peoples lives by creating opportunities for them to become agents of change in their own community.”
