30 Jul 2017

Alcohol and substance abuse are among the biggest challenges facing young people in Botswana.

Statistics of young people whose lives are being ruined by alcohol and substance abuse are alarming.

Government is therefore committed to safeguarding the future of Botswana by supporting initiatives that would enhance the quality of life for future generations.

More importantly, government is engaged in identifying opportunities that will contribute to the betterment of the lives of young people in Botswana.

The Minister of Tertiary Education Science and Technology,  Alfred Madigele said in many developing countries the formal employment sector was not creating employment fast enough to absorb thousands of young graduates.

 Madigele was giving a key note address at the launch of the 2017 Miss Elegance International and Junior Modelling show.

Madigele said Batswana needed initiatives that engaged the youth in gainful and socially acceptable activities.

Private citizens, he said must work together with government to unveil opportunities in other sectors.

He pledged his support to activities that would keep young people engaged in meaningful activities that enhanced their lives citing Miss Elegance International and Junior Modeling project as one of them.

“I encourage young people to look for opportunities in different sectors of the economy in order to partner with government to address the challenges of alcohol and substance abuse and youth unemployment. Government cannot achieve it alone,” he stated.

Madigele applauded the event organiser, Gurpreet Dhaliwal in what he called investing in developing the concept of Miss Elegance to change the lives of young men and women who would take part, emphasising that the move was a successful stepping stone to personal success.

Deputy vice chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of Botswana, Martin Mokgwathi said success in any organisation, came from motivation and determination to achieve a set of predetermined and commonly agreed goals.

Motivation, according to Mogwathi brought perseverance and resilience in the face of multiple daunting challenges.

Motivation, he also said enabled people to turn challenges into opportunities, which become the basis of progress.

“The beauty, elegance, fashion and glamour is one in which competition is the strongest. As the elders have said, the world belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Why should you continue to marvel at the achievement of actors, models and fashion designers from other parts of the world. We should be creating an environment conducive to the growth and development of our own,” he stated.

Addressing, guests on the title, Empowering oung women, Thea Khama said she was passionate about beauty with substance, compassion and confidence both internal and external.

Since the 19th century, beauty pageants had grown popularly and were now a multi-billion dollar industry, Khama said noting that pageants promoted good looks, talents of contestants and a variety of spin-off benefits to the participants and society at large.

Khama urged companies, government and all to support Miss Elegance International as part of a brand to Botswana profiling.

“It will add value to promote tourism and investment in the nation of Botswana,” she stated.

For his part, Dhaliwal said the concept of Miss Elegance International was born from the fact that there was great beauty, fashion and elegance in Botswana which was yet to be expressed at universal level.

He observed the beauty industry had contributed immensely to the development and enhancement of many economies throughout the world emphasising that, globally the industry was estimated to generate around US$40 billion per annum.

Miss Elegance International will be open to all Batswana in enhancing cultural exchange and unity between people from various walks of life.

Dhaliwal added that the event would act as spring board, in attracting superstars to the diamond country and raising the profile of Botswana. ENDS