The Hub, ACHAP to stage Miss All-Schools pageant

KARABO SENAME
Staff Writer | Wednesday August 24, 2011 00:00

 

Pageant organiser Marc Themba told journalists at a press conference on Monday that they are aiming at providing a platform for the youth to address challenges and sensitise the general public on issues like HIV/AIDS and safe male circumcision through events like this one.

'The Miss All Schools Francistown pageant will be used as a communication tool to address and escalate issues that young people are faced with regarding HIV/AIDS with more emphasis on prevention measures and coping mechanisms for the affected and infected,' Themba said. He stated that most beauty pageants are often about beauty but this initiative is not just a standard beauty pageant.

'Beauty lies in the inner self, concern, compassion, care and love for one another. These are the commendable virtues that this initiative attempts to instil in young people,' explained Themba.

ACHAP representative, Keikabele Magashula said his organisation has a number of programmes that need to be taken to people. He said these programmes include safe male circumcision, which is why they felt it was a great opportunity to partner with Hub Concepts in this initiative and use the winner of the pageant for advocacy and sensitising the public on the importance of undertaking safe male circumcision.

According to the pageant chief judge, Karen Ngada they will be looking at so many different attributes that one possesses.

'We are looking for something extra special. We will not be looking for beauty only, rather the way that person conducts herself, the way she walks, attitude towards life and inner beauty.

We will also be looking for someone with good social responsibility involvement,' said Ngada Ngada also said they will be looking for someone who can be a role model to her peers and other people in society.

The Miss All Schools Francistown Pageants an annual event, and the contestants of the pageant are secondary school students from the 13-17 age group. The contestants are normally from different secondary schools in Northern Botswana and were trimmed to the last 10 after auditions and fashion show held at Thapama and Gallo mall respectively.

The cover charge for the event will be P80 for adults and P20 for children. There are 200 seats reserved for adults so people are advised to buy tickets in advance.