Miss Malawi contestants in ECD training

Twenty contestants for this year’s Miss Malawi beauty pageant on are undergoing a three-day early childhood development training at Nyasa International Academy in Blantyre.

Business organising officer for the pageant Clara Saeluzika said the training, which started on Wednesday, is in line with the theme for the 2022 contest which centres on early childhood development.

Saeluzika added that they look at the training as an opportunity to test the intellect of the participants.     

“The pageant is not just about beauty but also about intellect. We want to see how they will apply what they will learn here. What else are they bringing to the table apart from their beauty? How they think, how they operate and how they use their minds. We are generally observing how sharp they are,” she said.

Founder and managing director for the school Rubina Hajat said they are excited to contribute to a cause that has a bearing on the development of young minds in the country.

Hajat said: “Many children are neglected and I have the opportunity to work with the twenty contestants and make a difference in the lives of those who will one day take a turn and educate the whole Malawi and spread the word that early childhood development is so important.”

One of the contestants Grace Mazinga said the lessons they will get would leave a lasting impact on how they approach and apply themselves to issues of early childhood development. She said they have been encouraged by the efforts that the school is investing in the area.