16 Aug 2015

The Boteti Sub District Council through the Social Welfare and Community Development Department is hosting a boot camp in Xere to prepare for the hosting of the Remote Area Development Programme Beauty Pageant (Miss RADP 2015) scheduled for Saturday August 22 at the Orapa Sports Hall.

The event to be held under the theme: Unearthing natural beauty and talent, will bring together 10 contestants from the remote villages of Mmea, Khwee, Kedia and Xere among others who will compete for the ultimate crown of RADP queen in Boteti.

The principal community development officer for Boteti Sub-district, Wame Papo revealed this at the ongoing boot camp. She said the 10 contestants were coached on behavioural change, health and personal hygiene as well as the pitfalls of drugs and alcohol abuse and most the life skills that could help them gain self-esteem and confidence.

‘’You have to understand that we are talking about people from remote locations, many of them are impressionable and have not had any exposure to the world outside their rural and remote environment. They lack confidence and self-esteem. Through the boot camp we are confronted with the task of opening their eyes to the world and imparting basic life skills” she said.

She hailed the support her office has received from the business community in Letlhakane, saying the monetary prizes for the winners would also increase this year. Last year the winner walked home with gifts worth P2 000 and this year the prize has increased to P5 000.

“The support for this year’s event has been impressive. We have received sponsorship from BK Coffins, Mumys Cash Loan, Tagala holdings, Gorts Investments and Edlish Investments,” she said.

She also said there were individuals and companies who have pledged in kind and monetary assistance whose names would be mentioned at the end of the event.

She highlighted that all participants were from communities that were economically challenged and dependent on the government for their welfare provisions and sustenance.

She added that the Boteti Sub District Council was compelled to fund them in order to meet their social needs, especially the costs for the beauty contest. She said many of the competitors do not even know basic things like putting on makeup.

“At the same time this pageant will help employ the youth who will supply and design the dresses the competitors will wear as well as catering and other event management services.

The contestants themselves will also gain knowledge and be encouraged to take advantage and apply for government schemes which they can utilise in their settlements,” she said.

She said the winner of the 2014 contest has been instrumental in encouraging the youth in her home village of Xere to go back to school, and was also addressing social ills in schools in her area, imparting knowledge on issues such as teenage pregnancy, teenage motherhood and was a source of motivation to others.

She said the objectives of the pageant were talent identification, inclusiveness in the mainstream society, building self-esteem and promoting the brand of the RADP beauty contest among remote area dwellers.

The annual RADP competitions which cover 67 settlements across the country starts at district level, with the winners eventually representing their districts at the national finals. ENDS