Hey, I’m Katura

Hi! Let me introduce you to me and my projects.  My name is Katura Halleday, I am 15 years old and define myself as an artist, humanitarian and social justice advocate.  I am passionate about two things in life, art being one and the other the education of young women in developing countries.  By following these passions, I have been able to fulfil my dream of uniting my community through art whilst helping to continue the education of those less fortunate.

In 2018 I started a Social Enterprise, 8×8 to Educate, donating 100% of the profits to education in Mozambique.  We have now expanded to include children from all Developing Nations.   I currently have three main income streams, a book written by Natasha Yates that my sister and I illustrated called Rina’s Story, an annual Art Competition and professional public speaking engagements.

We ran our first Art Competition/Exhibition in 2019 and managed to raise $9425.00. This will be used by the school to further the education of approximately 2000 students in Mozambique.   $1200 was set aside to set up some micro businesses, however since the impact of COVID-19 we are currently providing monthly food packs.  It is hoped that post COVID we can return to the Micro businesses to help the local economy grow and introduce young ladies to entrepreneurial skills through a program I am currently developing.  I would love to see these skills develop to a point where the girls could be independent and sustainable.

Through my sponsorship work I have been able to facilitate the donation of 105 Surface Pro computers, school supplies, building material, furniture, tools, etc all of which were desperately needed after the school was hit by a cyclone in 2019.

I have been fortunate to have these activities recognised by the local and international community. I was as a finalist for Gold Coast Citizen of the Year 2018, the Women in Business Rising Star for 2018, International Stevie Silver Award in New York,  Australian Representative at the International Forum for Volunteers in Russia,  and the subject of an internationally award winning short film ‘Katura’s Story’ which I presented to the United Nations in February 2020.

While I am honored by these awards I am more grateful for the platform it has given me to have my voice heard, and to highlight the issues of Educational Equality. I hope you find my story inspirational and that it ignites in you a desire to help.