Miss Ekurhuleni Ambassador race heats up
The race to be crowned Miss Ekurhuleni Ambassador is heating up.
Siyaphumelela Youth Development Initiative (SYDI) in collaboration with the Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation recently facilitated a workshop for 50 semi-finalists in the Miss Ekurhuleni Ambassador pageant.
Participants from different townships gathered at the Moses Molelekwa Arts Centre on December 6 to take part in a skills development programme aimed at empowering young women with entrepreneurial knowledge.
Organiser Phil Mhlongo said the programme also aimed to promote women’s emancipation and empower young people to become future leaders in business and society at large.
“The pageant is not only about beauty but it is also a youth programme that is meant to assist in fighting poverty, teenage pregnancy, unemployment, drug abuse and all other social ills faced by the youth.”
Mhlongo said about 2.7-million young South Africans are unemployed and lamented that the government will not be able to assist every one of them.
SYDI aims to bridge this gap, he said, adding that everyone needs to be involved in solving society’s problems.
SYDI partners with the Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation to help the City of Ekurhuleni with fostering social cohesion and unity in diversity.
“The partnership carries the hopes, aspirations and expectations of over three million people of Ekurhuleni,” said Mhlongo.
“We are entrusted with the responsibility to change lives and provide a better life for all our people.”
This is the second edition of the Miss Ekurhuleni Ambassador pageant, and SYDI is in collaboration to host the pageant for three years.
“We are happy that we have covered all three regions of Ekurhuni and all contestants have responded positively,” said Mhlongo.
“The process has been tough and competitive. The finals of the pageant are on April 28 and the prize money is R100 000 for the overall winner.
“All prizes put together are worth R250 000.”
Contestants will take part in a second workshop on January 20, and on February 24 the last top 20 will be selected to represent the different regions of Ekurhuleni.
“We are open for sponsors who are willing to come on board to support this youth initiative.
“We urge the community to support the initiative as well, and they can visit our Facebook page Miss Ekurhuleni Ambassador, our Instagram is Miss_Ekurhuleni.”
