By Clemence Tashaya
OUTAPI –Rauha Shomongula (22) has been crowned Miss DAPP Outapi Cultural Festival 2014.
The cultural festival for the DAPP Outapi Vocational Training Centre is aimed at motivating young ladies to showcase their modeling talents and to open up this fast-growing industry in Namibia to them. The organiser of the cultural festival at the centre, Scholastika Embashu, says the event was meant to celebrate culture since DAPP Outapi VTS is a multi-cultural centre with trainees coming from different tribes and cultural background“We hold these cultural festivals every year and we are happy that Miss Cultural Festival 2014 was held successfully. We have beautiful young ladies at the centre and we want to open up opportunities for them whilst they are studying as well. We want to catch them young before they are abused in the outside world,” Embashu says
The cultural festival saw ten contestants competing in four categories. Helvi Taapopi (20) a Level One Community Development trainee was crowned the first princess and Miss Personality while Hendrina Shikongo (19) is the second princess. A Level 2 Office Administration trainee, Martha Mbenzi (21) is Miss Photogenic
The excited Rauha says she aims to compete in other beauty pageants this year like at the Ongwediva Trade and Business Expo and the popular Olufuko festival. “I want my dreams to become true and with my confidence, I know that the sky is the limit for me. Let me finish my studies and Iwill face the other Namibian beautiful ladies who are in this beauty pageants’ industry. We need corporate organisations to also realise our dreams here in small towns like Outapi and should come up with these events on an annual basis,” she says
Contestants were judged for their flair in public speaking and natural beauty, elegance as well as disposition towards cat walking. The judges were out to test the contestant for their intelligence and general knowledge regarding the history of Oukwaludhi, Ongandjela, Ombalantu and Oukwambi since they are the main tribes in the Omusati region.
Rauna is prepared to work with the community in Omusati region hence her studies in Community Development at DAPP Outapi’s VTS centre.
Hendrina who has been crowned the second princess is studying Business and Secretarial Studies and says she would be happy to see the people of the Omusati region despite tribal differences coming together for a common cause, which is culture.
“Our leaders and parents in this region should let us learn from an early age since culture is dynamic and the next generation should be taught about this culture as well,” she proudly says.
The DAPP Outapi Cultural Festival 2014 was sponsored by Ms Enkono, Mr Hamunyela, DAPP VTS, TRCs and the Outapi community members.