Miss Universe Botswana helps combat poverty

NELSON DIRENG
Correspondent | Wednesday November 10, 2010 00:00

 

Last Friday she actively took part in the Community Service Day held at Tsholofelo Park in Gaborone.

The Community Service Day, which is celebrated once every month, was introduced last year by President Ian Khama as party of his new anti-poverty strategy.  Usually a house is built for a needy person on the day. 

According to the Miss Universe Botswana director, Safie Sekgwa, the initiative is also used by the President as a way of encouraging Batswana to continue supporting one another.  Sekgwa stated in a press release on Monday that Ramasedi has been appointed by Khama to be the face of people with disabilities and help communicate the dictum that 'Disability is not Inability'.

For her part, Ramasedi said that it is essential for Batswana to keep recognising and supporting the needy and disabled.  She said that this is in line with the Vision 2016 pillars that aim to make Botswana a caring and compassionate nation.  'Vision 2016 is almost here and Batswana should unite in a proud manner that will help propel the economy to that of a world-class emerging market,' she said.

She also talked about last year's State of the Nation Address theme of 'Poverty eradication' pointing out that days such as the Community Service Day are an innovative way of ensuring its success.  'Vision 2016 should be complemented by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which should inspire Batswana to embark on projects that can help eradicate poverty once and for all,' she said.

Other projects Ramasedi has attended to ever since returning from Las Vegas, United States of America (US) where the Miss Universe pageant was staged, include World Standards Day, Camphill Rankoromane's 70th anniversary celebrations, and Pitso ya Lehuma,

Among other prominent people who attended the event were Gaborone North Member of Parliament (MP), Keletso Rakhudu, and the Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Shaw Kgathi.

Ramasedi represented the country at the 2010 Miss Universe pageant, which Botswana had missed for the past six consecutive years.  Miss Mexico won this year's pageant.