18 Dec 2022

Miss RADP and Mr RADP fashion show aims to identify talent and cultivate mindset change while promoting inclusivity and cultivating hope for people in remote areas.

Mindset change is paramount as espoused in the Reset Agenda, especially in young people who fall victims of social ills.

The Acting National Remote Area Development Programme Coordinator, Gomolemo Tselakgopo said during the Miss RADP 2022 Mercy Khutsafalo’s homecoming in Somelo.

She indicated that the pageant brought change to young people aged 18-25, who were eligible to partake in it as the finalists were trained on interpersonal and entrepreneurship skills.

The coordinator explained that the pageant was one of government’s affirmative action aimed to bridge the gap between people in settlements and those in villages and urban areas.

She stated that the pageant was conceived in 2013 after realising that Batswana in different locations did not receive services in the same way due to some confounding variables such as distance from service centres.

Tselakgopo highlighted that government aimed to close the gap between settlements and urban areas so that there were no disparities between a resident who grew up in a settlement and one in a village, town or city.

“This pageant serves a purpose for people in remote areas as we help them grow and improve their lives to be sustainable even after their reign is over.’’

The winners were both awarded P70 000 to start a project, while the first and second runner ups received P60 000 and P50 000 respectively for their projects.

Furthermore, the winners pocketed P10 000 prize money, P7 000 and P5 000 for the first and second runner ups whereas other contestants received a P4 000 consolation prizes.

She told the North West District residents that the Miss RADP 2022 queen had assumed the role of being the country’s ambassador, hence they should expect her to take assignments in other districts.

North West District commissioner, Thabang Waloka advised Khutsafalo to have talks with girls in Somelo about the dangers of teenage pregnancy.

“Teenage pregnancy is one of the most common challenge faced by girls in settlements, which results in school dropouts,  so I encourage you to sit girls down and motivate them to stay away from relationships.’’

He further encouraged young people to stay focused and have a solid plan to define what they wanted to achieve in life.

He highlighted that government was committed to ensuring that the Miss RADP and Mr RADP fashion show was a success story.

North West District Council secretary Motlogelwa Thuso reiterated that it was government’s objective to bridge the gap between settlements, villages and towns so that remote areas received services promptly, adding that this was why government was working tirelessly to improve infrastructure in settlements.

He said the newly crowned khutsafalo would be the face of people in remote areas across the country, hence called Somelo to support her in all her endeavours.

He thanked Khutsafalo’s family for raising an intelligent girl who had a solid vision of what she wanted to achieve in life. ENDS