Lately we caught up with the OECS yes in Action which seeks at empowering the sub-region’s young people and its latest feature zeros in on a Grenadian Creative Artist, Khadijah Halliday.
She’s highlighted as a 19-year-old Spoken Word Artist and Writer, tackling the stigma of mental illness in the Caribbean through empowering videos, poetry and prose!
REPORT:
Every month on the website OECS.org, which disseminates information to the development of the sub-region, the YES in Action segment gives credence to the work of the progressive youth. And this month, the spotlight falls on young Khadijah Halliday, whose great desire is mental health advocacy.
She conveys the understanding that mental illness carries with it a heavy stigmatization throughout the Caribbean, and she’s speaking from experience, having had challenges of her own as a student, terrified and afraid to speak up, for fear of being dismissed.
She said it was one of the primary reasons which prompted her to take a stand and be counted, using her creative energies to help validate the pain of others who fall within the same mental health stigma predicament.
Khadijah reiterates that experiences with her mental health have collectively been a major challenge, which have tremendously deepened the reach of her writing and is at the seat of her desire, championing for mental health awareness.
In this current COVID era where it has had a major impact on the work of young people, through God Khadijan says she’s able to cope, with patience and positivity.
During the pandemic she was able to put together a few short films, where several nationalities have been involved.
She says the aim is to celebrate the sub-region’s efforts during the arduous quarantine period regardless of the expected productivity levels.
The Grenadian creative artist says she writes, not to fill notebooks, but, to transform lives, however, she doesn’t like disappointment, something, though, Khadijah has learnt to struggle with.
The voice there of Grenadian Creative Artist, Khadijah Halliday and I am Petra Louison reporting.
