05 Mar 2015

One of the elements that boost winners of Miss Botswana has continuously been the beauty with a purpose project, which later gives Miss World contestants a run for their beauty. 

Prior to the global spectacle, Botswana queens are usually abuzz with their charity projects, a thing that usually attracts more votes.  Beauty with a Purpose is the heart of Miss World and a number of international charitable organisations have benefitted from its coffers.

Miss World organisers expect the contestants to do the same in their countries, even after their year of reign. Evidently, such projects are just an eye-service locally, as most are dumped once the local beauties return from Miss World. 

In a quest to find how the beauties were doing with their projects BOPA talked to the reigning queen, Rosemary Keofitlhetse and Tapiwa Preston who was the 2012 queen. 

Preston’s project was to raise national awareness and funds for children with learning disabilities. 

Her project was motivated by the two conditions, Dyslexia and Dyscalculia, which she suffered at primary school. In Dyslexia a child has difficulty matching letter combinations to specific sounds, spelling errors. With dyscalculia one has a challenge with a basic sense of numbers and quantity and a child finds it difficult to grasp mathematical concepts. Preston had promised to raise awareness amongst the public who are usually ignorant of such. But since then less has been seen happening concerning her project despite being welcomed by many. 

When quizzed about her project Preston said, “I am not interested in having an interview or publicity right now.” 

The reigning queen’s project was to revamp the Botswana Council of Women (BCW) pre-schools across the country and the queen had also identified five stay home orphans and declared that she would provide for their needs. 

Her project was motivated by her life story; she was born to a teenage mother and lost her at the age of nine. In an interview, the reigning queen revealed that she had already revamped the Gaborone pre-school and said she was yet to improve the nurseries across the country. 

“I had to stop my activities for a while as the BCW has a court case with some organisers, but once all is sorted I will continue.”  Apart from revamping the dilapidated pre-school, built two decades ago, she is also working on turning the BCW’s first caravan office into a museum. 

The queen said the museum will house information on the late first Lady Ruth Khama and information and pictures of the past queens. She said although everything is still on hold, she has approached certain stakeholders who are necessary for the success of this project.

I am going to continue making a difference in the children’s lives even after my year of reign. 

She said that BCW day-schools are affordable and said they offer most children an early education and said she is still going to appeal to some companies to support the project.

Pageants promoter Neo Selwe said she has observed that local queens neglect their projects though such projects can empower them. She said the queens should remember that their titles remain with them forever and it is history of this country. 

“It is so disappointing to see not a single project to any of the queens’ names. In other countries past queens have organisations to their name and are still being celebrated.” 

She said if they are actively involved in projects, the public would not forget them. “Some of their projects are amazing and gives people hope, and it is not right to just go underground without any explanation. Some of the projects can be used to change lives and some people are ready to support the girls during and after reign.” 

The pageant coordinator Dorcas Molefhe said they were concerned about the issue. She said it should be understood that the project is the sole responsibility of the title holder and said the reigning queen should see that it is up and running.  She said the BCW case does not affect the queen’s project. 

“Prior to Miss World the girls are so cooperative but once they return from Miss World they do not want to see us. But the projects are theirs, they choose what they want to do and we expect them to continue even after their period of reigning.”  She said their office can only assist when need arise.

Ms Molefhe said embarking on long term projects might be an alternative so that when one’s period elapse the next queen can continue with the project, something that has shown to be effective for some countries.

The coordinator said they intend to tighten the way they have been doing things such as signing an agreement to ensure that they fulfil their promises. 

She said it is embarrassing to always present projects that never see the light of the day. She said money is spent on them and they should also give back to society. Hopefully they will do things better as they are to unveil the new pageant promoter. ENDS