Spotlight on.. Our Facilitator Saadia

What do you do in your day job?

I’m one of the facilitators for The Juno Project, where I work with young people in school or in the community, running workshops and activities on health and well-being. The sessions are all so different, and the conversations we have are one of the best parts of the job. I enjoy getting to know the young people I work with and building up trust and relationships.

I volunteer with the South Downs Planetarium, ensuring school visits run smoothly, and Sanctuary in Chichester, teaching English. I am also a buddy at Chichester Festival Theatre, where I accompany people to the theatre who otherwise might not be able to.

What made you want to support The Juno Project?

Working as a teacher, I saw many students who struggled with their emotions and how this impacted their learning. But there was never the opportunity to intervene and for individuals to begin to understand why they behaved or felt a particular way. When I became aware of the work of The Juno Project, I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. 

What do you think are the biggest challenges our beneficiaries are facing?

So many things – social media is a huge factor, the pace of life, the constant decision-making – it all adds up and creates more and more pressure on an individual. We all need strategies on how to deal with them.

What are your passions and concerns about the world?

If you had asked me this about 5 years ago, my answer would be so different. I sometimes think we are regressing when I look at what is happening in the world in terms of prejudice and freedom to choose. I feel very passionate about people being treated fairly and not being judged or stereotyped. We see high-profile people not being held to account for things they say or do, which sends the signal that it is ok to have this opinion.

I care about our environment and climate change, and I like to stay up to date on developments and what I can do about it.

What do you like to do in your free time?

In my spare time, I like to try different mindfulness activities; one week I might be doing jigsaw puzzles, and the next week I’m painting watercolours or knitting. I think I can do gardening; I’m not that good at it, but I like being outside in nature. I come from Scotland, so whenever I visit my family I like to go hiking, and there are so many munros and mountains to choose from.