Reigning Miss UMP Maisha Chikuta is set to lead an environmental conservation campaign called Youth Voice, Earth Choices.
Brains behind the initiative say it aims to inspire and mobilise young people to actively participate in environmental protection through creative and sustainable actions.
The campaign will feature various initiatives, including, music performances, fashion shows, clean-up, tree planting and multimedia engagement which will also involve the Miss UMP First and Second Princesses and other finalists.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, Chikuta said she wants to use her platform as Miss UMP to raise awareness about environmental conservation and promote sustainable practices. She said she believes it is the responsibility of the youth to protect the planet for future generations.
The model said she is thrilled to champion the Youth Voices, Earth Choices initiative which merges urban culture with sustainability.
She said: “I want to inspire a wave of environmental awareness and action among young people, empowering them to make eco-friendly choices and demand sustainable practices.
“I aim to make a tangible difference by promoting community-led initiatives, influencing policy changes and fostering a culture of environmental stewardship that benefits our planet for generations to come.”
The Miss UMP said to achieve the goals of the campaign, she will deploy a range of tools such as social media engagement, influencer partnerships to amplify the messages, interactive events and workshops.
“We plan to share the inspiring stories, online petitions, and advocacy tools that drive policy change. These tools will help mobilise the youth to create a buzz around environmental issues and drive meaningful action,” she said.
On her part, UMP Festival chief executive officer Aisha De Silva said they want to raise awareness about environmental conservation using their Miss UMP platform to engage young people in sustainable actions and promoting eco-friendly fashion and lifestyle.
“By leveraging music, fashion and multimedia, the campaign makes eco-friendly messages more relatable and engaging. The hands-on activities such as eco-fashion shows encourage the community involvement in beautifying public places and inspire others to adopt sustainable habits,” she said.
The campaign will be implemented in Blantyre, Lilongwe, Cape Mclear in Mangochi and selected universities through the UMP College Youth Clubs.
