De-fence Against Loneliness update: The fence is down!

Exciting news – we've hit a major milestone in our De-fence Against Loneliness project: the fence is down! This is a significant step toward achieving our project goal.

A big thank you to everyone involved, especially our dedicated volunteers from Medibank, and a special shout-out to our sewing group for creating the beautiful "Welcome to Jika Jika" banner pictured above.

Project recap:

Our De-fence Against Loneliness project aims to address feelings of isolation, promote well-being and foster a sense of community through art. Our aim is to transform the old childcare fence into an inviting art installation that embodies warmth and inclusivity and reflects our community's stories and ideas.

We're fortunate to be collaborating with talented artist, Rosa Mar Tato Ortega, whose creativity has been key in guiding our project from the start. Rosa has listened to a diverse range of voices, from community forums to individual meetings, spanning various age groups, staff and volunteers. This feedback has been crucial in shaping the project's direction.

Read Rosa’s profile in this edition of Jika Jika Connect.

What's next?

We're finalising designs and getting ready for construction. Our structural engineer is helping us make sure everything is safe and sound. We're aiming to move quickly while keeping things to the highest quality.

Come check it out!

If you haven't already, come see the new courtyard without the fence. It's open and friendly, just like we want our community to be. We've heard good things so far, and we'd love to hear what you think too.

Stay tuned for updates and opportunities to engage with us as we work to make a positive impact on our community.

Warm regards, The Jika Jika Team