Young people living with HIV under their umbrella organization, Uganda Network of Young People
Living with HIV/Aids (UNYPA) last Friday launched the Y+ (young positive) beauty pageant at the Kampala Serena Hotel in the most exhilarating scientific way, themed “Opening the Opportunities.
The Y+ beauty pageant launch was different from the usual because it had artiste Irene Ntale refresh the minds of the audience with her music. Seated on a stool and strumming the guitar, Irene took the people away with her melodious voice accompanied by great sound, stage and lighting from Fenon.
Irene sang and crowned her performance with Gyobeera which got the audience singing along. The
main purpose of launch was to reveal the roadmap of the three months’ campaign including online
activations, regional auditions, Boot camp, and lastly, the grand finale.
According to Ruth Awori, the Y+ beauty pageant programmes manager at Uganda Network Of Young People Living with HIV/Aids (UNYPA), the pageant will run through regions that is, Central, Northern, Western and Eastern.
The regional auditions will comprise of young men and women between the ages of 15–24 living
with HIV from partner organisations or health centers in regions.
She also revealed that this year’s auditions will comprise of a series of activities like integrated
community service events, community dialogues to build awareness of stigma and discrimination
among community members but it is also tackling associated conditions such as mental health
challenges.
According to Joram Muzira a celebrated pageant coach, the contest doesn’t focus on looks, but on a
young positive being a role model for other young people with HIV, on being able to advocate for
the needs of young people, and to increase acceptance and understanding of young people living
with HIV in society.
He says the boot camp will be a week-long capacity building and strengthening training conducted
by external and internal trainers where the 18 contestants, four from each region that is North, East,
West and six contestants from central region to compete in the Y+ beauty pageant.
He says regional ambassadors camp together for capacity strengthening, empowerment and are given resources they need to succeed through providing knowledge and skills on economic empowerment, key advocacy, life and hands on skills such as talent breeding, bead work and crafts, pad making and many more.
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This year’s boot camp will be conducted on 14th- 24th November 2021 and the grand finale will
climax the three months campaign and will be conducted on November 26th.