25 Sep 2018

Mohumagadi Thandie Gaborone of Batlokwa has encouraged youth from remote areas to utilise their talents to develop and empower themselves as well as their communities.

She said this on Saturday(September 29) during the Mr and Miss RADP beauty pageants, that were held at the Good Hope Senior Secondary School.

Mohumagadi Thandie applauded the Miss and Mr RADP 2018 winners, Boipelo Kebontse and Frank Seumako, who both hail from Sekhutlane, stating that it was important for individuals to use such initiatives because they could be a way of earning a living.

She said that villages like Sekhutlane hold a vast amount of beauty and talent that needs to be displayed nationwide so as to create opportunities for the individuals.

Mohumagadi Thandie expressed gratitude for being invited to the event as it gave her a chance to interact with her native tribe of Barolong.

She noted that Miss RADP has been held at Sekhutlane for the previous years and commended the organisers for holding it at Good Hope for the first time and for catering for both genders, noting that males are usually left out.

In order for initiatives such as Miss RADP to meet their objectives, Mohumagadi Thandie advised the Barolong communities to welcome the programmes with ‘warm hands’ and facilitate them.

“It is up to us to take these places to greater heights by offering support, participation and encouragement,” she emphasised.

She advised the Sekhutlane youth to seek advice from different people, including herself.

She also the business community to offer a helping hand because collective and collaborative efforts were the basis of a successful mission.

Acting senior assistant council secretary and patron of Miss and Mr RADP beauty pageant for Good Hope Sub-district, Mr Peter Ramothokgwana stated that the objective of event was to sensitise the rural communities about the affirmative action initiative and also to bring services closer to people who were previously disadvantaged by encouraging participation of young men and women from remote areas into mainstream development.

Mr Ramothokgwana said this in turn helps communities by empowering them economically and building their self-esteem and confidence.

He outlined some of the objectives as being to identify talent, bring about inclusiveness, inspire behavioural change, help in economic growth of rural settlements by empowering beneficiaries and also to promote their cultural values.

He said that the pageant was for youth of ages 18 to 25 and gives the winners a chance to play a significant role in their communities as a gateway to building an empowered and happy nation.

In an interview after winning the crown Miss RADP 2018, Boipelo Kebontse (23), said she did not expect to win as it was her first time to enter a beauty pageant.

He said the theme; Unearthing Natural Beauty and Talent is accurate because it marks originality.

She acknowledged that being from a remote area had limited them in many ways, but she was thankful that the pageant had given her new experiences such as camping and being interviewed.

She stated that her confidence had grown so much that she felt that she would be in a better position for the next round of Regional Miss RADP competition, which is to be held in Kanye.

There were 11 female and 10 male contestants. Ends