The non-profit Antioch House hosted the Mr and Miss Antioch House beauty pageant at Umnonjaneni Matabane section in Tembisa, to raise awareness of gender-based violent (GBV), on October 19.
According to the organiser and general coordinator of Antioch House Betty Mulaudzi, GBV is common and perpetrated in different ways which cannot be ignored. “We as an NGO decided to raise awareness of GBV through a beauty pageant.
“Winners of this pageant will automatically be brand ambassadors and be part of the NGO.
“We are grooming our participants to improve their self-confidence,” said Mulaudzi.
Four people were crowned winners of the competition: Itumeleng Modiba was first prince, Lebohang Setale first princess, Tumelo Shoyisa was crowned king and Amanda Ngwenya queen. Secretary Baby Thabethe Ngwenya said they were raising awareness of GBV in a fun and interesting way.
“Most youth do not attend GBV events because to them the events seem boring, but we chose a different way to raise awareness,” said Ngwenya.
Chairperson Hlengiwe Jozini said it is their desire as Antioch House to see peace prevailing in communities and in the country at large .
“The eruption of GBV lately has drawn our attention to a point where we had to figure out ways in which we can extinguish it. It is not an individual’s but everyone’s responsibility to make sure that the goal is met.
“The beauty pageant is not there for fun only, but it also serves to educate the youth and help build their courage and confidence,” said Jozini.
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