Nthatuoa Koeshe
A CLIMATE change presentation which 22-year-old model Khothatso Sefali presented at the debut Miss Africa International held in Egypt from 6 to 26 February 2019 could be a promising idea for the empowerment young rural women in Lesotho.
The project proposal was selected as one of the top 15 projects out of 50 others which were presented and it holds a prize of €1 million (Euro) for the winner.
Sefali, who is a member of the Lesotho Beauty Pageant Association (LBPA) will be going back to Egypt on 26 March for her full presentation.
“One of the requirements to enter Miss Africa International was to present a proposal on how we can empower young rural women in our countries so, with help from the Trans Vanguide organisation, we decided to base on climate change,” Sefali said.
She said the project is about promoting climate change awareness and helping young women in Lesotho to live a better life with their families by adapting to their current environment through making climate change smart decisions.
“While in Egypt, I was invited to the National Council for Women and I became their Ambassador in Lesotho.
“I also learnt that I will receive a fully paid scholarship to study in Egypt next year and get a franchise of the pageants among other benefits,” she said.
She said she also had photo shoots and she was chosen to record an advert for radio and television for Miss Africa International.
Sefali told the Weekender that she will be going back to Egypt on 26 March where she will be making her full presentation together with the other 14 contestants from countries like Zimbabwe, Namibia, Uganda and Congo among others.
She said this time, they are expected to bring one person who will be assisting with the presentation of the project and she will be taking Trans Vanguide’s Palesa Ntsapi, who is also a member of the Beauty pageant association.
“When I went to Egypt for the first time, everything was fully funded expect my plane tickets. However, this time around everything is covered,” she said. She added that the arrangement was not the same for her assistant in the project Palesa as only her accommodation and ground transport will be covered. She will need to raise M10 000 for plane tickets.
“We are seeking assistance from people who may be willing to help because this project could bring change to a lot of Basotho.”
For her part, Palesa said while doing their research, they found that one of the factors why young people were mostly affected by HIV and AIDS was the incessant droughts which the country has faced in recent years.
“One may ask what HIV and AIDS have do with the project but we found out that because drought brings poverty, young women tend to sleep with different men for money,” Palesa said.
Palesa said with the project, they intend to empower young women to start projects which are climate smart instead of waiting for men to do everything for them.
