The Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Talita Monnakgotla has hailed the success of the RADP pageant and fashion show saying it contributes to youth empowerment. With the annual beauty pageant and Mr RADP fashion show in their 10th and fifth years respectively, Monnakgotla said the event has grown immensely.
The event’s grand finale will be held on November 25 at Ditshupo Hall in Gaborone. “I am overjoyed to inform you that this project has since gained popularity and significance in Botswana pageantry and modelling,” Monnakgotla said. She also said the past finalists have contributed to behaviour change, cultural promotion and livelihoods upliftment in their local areas as well as at national level.
“Our past winners have been engaged in individual projects, which include crafts shop, small stock, modelling, beauty parlour and other self employment projects,” she said. Furthermore, she said the expectation is that the winners are to be ambassadors of the remote area development programme by way of participating in community projects, outreach programmes, representing RADP at national and international level, and in arts and cultural activities. She said the reigning queen and king are also expected to advocate behavioural change among the youth in remote area communities, particularly sexual and reproductive health, alcohol and substance abuse, the importance of education and accessing economic empowerment opportunities provided by government and other institutions. Additionally, the Assistant Minister reiterated that the theme and objectives of this initiative is still consistent and aligned to the 2014 Affirmative Action Framework for Remote Area Communities.
The beauty pageant and Mr RADP Fashion Show is held under the theme, ‘Unearthing Natural Beauty and Talent’. “This is in recognition of the fact that the pageant and fashion show value the diversity and uniqueness of culture and natural beauty that is found among young talented men and women from remote area communities,” she added. Monnakgotla also said the selection criterion for the national pageant and fashion show finalists has been changed this term following the upgrading of sub districts to full districts. Seventeen contestants will battle it out for the crown across the two categories representing their districts. For her part, Limkokwing Regional Director - Academic Management - Onalenna Phambuka said goal number five of the Affirmative Action Framework for Remote Area communities seeks to establish and strengthen collaboration and strategic partnerships with development partners and other stakeholders to support and contribute towards government efforts addressing remote area communities’ social and development needs.
“This goal advocates enhanced stakeholder and multi-sectoral collaborations through the promotion of increased private sector partnerships and enhanced support from Non-Government Organisations,” she said. She reiterated Limkokwing’s commitment to nurturing the partnership and supporting the event to realise the objectives of RADP and youth empowerment initiatives. She highlighted that this marks 10 years of unearthing natural talent and we are very proud to be part of this journey. She said the university has provided assistance in areas such as oragnising and hosting, grand finale technical plotting and direction, event management, providing creative designs and event documentation.
