Miss Commonwealth finalist is seeking sponsorship

Akhona Mabasa, a third year Psychology student at Wits University, is among the twelve finalists of Miss Commonwealth 2017.

Ecaleni-based, Mabasa (21) is appealing to local business people or any good Samaratan to sponsor the Zingce Foundation (NPO) charity organisation.

The Zingce Foundation’s registration number is 2015/162299/08. It supports a number of charities in South Africa.

However the main beneficiaries of the foundation are teenage girls who are based in the township of Katlehong, Gauteng.

These young ladies face many challenges and some of those challenges include substance abuse, HIV/Aids and poverty.

Most of the young girls come from broken homes – a few of them had to drop out of school due to lack of funds or support from their families.

The Zingce Foundation empowers these young girls by hosting motivational talks and one-on-one sessions with the girls. The idea is to address the issues they face within their homes and communities. The foundation is the support structure for the young ladies.

Zingce Foundation is structuring educational programmes to get the girls back to school and to encourage them to further their education.

Miss Commonwealth South Africa opens new doors for young Ambassadors creating a new dawn for a generation of royals that will bring about transformation in the country.

Miss Commonwealth South Africa is looking for the next Miss Commonwealth SA title holder.

Akhona Mabasa has been selected as one of the finalists in this year’s competition.

The Grand Finale takes place on December 8 in the Gauteng Province.

The pageant empowers young women with the knowledge to bring about change in communities in need.

The pageant’s main focus is the internal and external development of young women. Miss Commonwealth SA held a two-day leadership and empowerment seminar for the finalists at Wits University Science Stadium Auditorium on October 7 and 8.

The Wits Development and Leadership Unit as well as Gauteng Social Development partnered with Miss Commonwealth South Africa to ensure finalists received extensive grooming before they embarked on a journey to be ambassadors of change.

The finalists were then equipped to add value to their communities and peers.

The speakers for both days included MD Dandelion Breeze, Medina Harverye, Nomndeni Mdakhi (founder of Edits Communication), acting CEO of GEP Leah Manenzhe, HIV Clinician Dr Kairoonisha Mohamed, Deputy Director of Social Development Eve Machabi, Marlene Naiker (event director Mrs SA & Miss Commonwealth SA) and Khumo Kgomoeswana (image consultant).

L’Oreal Institute representative Khumo, the director of SnG Auditors Khanyisa Ngundu, Catherine Wood and Andricia Hinckemann also attended.

Through the Miss Commonwealth South Africa Pageant, a platform is created for women to become charity ambassadors who touch the lives of others and make a difference in our country. It is also a stepping stone for young women to follow their dreams.

The title holders become involved in charitable causes and uphold the aims and objectives of the Commonwealth.

This includes racial harmony, poverty eradication and social cohesion.

“It is our duty as a community to assist young women by creating opportunities for them. We must also give them space to be role models who are committed to serve the needs of society,” says Miss Commonwealth South Africa national director, Ngawethu Ka-Siphiwo.

For updates regarding the pageant, follow Miss Commonwealth South Africa on facebook.