Miss Blantyre organisers in girl education campaign

Tom Sangala October 15, 2015

424 1 minute read

Miss Blantyre 2015 organisers have extended their reach from the modelling stage to the classroom, this time by advancing the cause of girl learners at Blantyre Girls Secondary School.

Chairperson of the organising committee, Daniel Ngwira, said in an interview that one of the initiatives that would characterise this year’s pageant is the initiative premised on promoting education among girls.

“We want to take advantage of the fact that the United Nations (UN) has a day dedicated to the girl child, which fell on October 11 this year, and take the initiative in promoting the right of the girl child to education. We have decided to start with Blantyre Girls Secondary School, where sanitation is a problem,” said Ngwira.

The UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child on December 19, 2011. This year’s theme was ‘The Power of the Adolescent Girl: Vision for 2013’.

The UN said in a statement:

“The UN Adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life, not only during these critical formative years, but also as they mature into women. If effectively supported during the adolescent years, girls have the potential to change the world – both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, and political leaders.”

Ngwira said Miss Blantyre organisers would court a number of partners in the quest to promote the pageant as well as girls’ right to education.

“We have settled for Blantyre Girls Primary School because, among other challenges, there are no toilets and learners are advised to go home whenever they want to answer to the call of nature. Among other activities, we have a Corporate Night that is strictly invitational on October 21 at Ryalls Hotel. The Blantyre City Mayor, officials from the public and private sectors will be there as well,” said Ngwira.

Ngwira said Miss Blantyre organisers are using the agenda of modelling as a youth development and empowerment platform.

This year’s edition of Miss Blantyre was launched in August. As part of activities marking the launch, Miss Blantyre 2015 organisers held a public show at Nthukwa Market, Chilomoni, and a modelling event at Basement Club in Blantyre.