Ethiopian Beauty contest to mark youth day

By Tibebeselassie Tigabu
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia- a beauty contest to mark the International Youth Day is going to be held on August 8 at the Tourist Hotel in the town of Arbaminch [500 km from Addis Ababa].
The International Youth Day was declared by the UN in 1999. Starting from that year it is celebrated worldwide with many events that include workshops, sports week, various festivals to create awareness towards youth issues.
Even if the youth accounts a great deal of percentage they are alienated from decision making. So the youth day every year marks a proposition to governments to include youth in the drafting, implementation and decision making process in their issues and overall aspects.
Since the first celebration of youth day in 2000, every year the Day is marked with different themes - this year’s theme ‘SUSTAINABILITY: Our Challenge. Our Future.’  Last year’s theme was ‘Youth and climate change:Time for action’ .
In Ethiopia the day is celebrated with different events like festival and a beauty contest by different groups.
Outside of Addis Ababa, in Arbaminch, a beauty contest which is assumed to draw attention of the youth is organized by Adamant commission Agency.
“The first plan was to do a fashion show but as you know fashion show is a one time thing. After the event there will be nothing left. So we wanted to create a stage where the youth can compete at the same time address their issues”, states the managing director of Adamant commission Agency
In the beauty contest 20 girls which come from different corners of the town will compete to be crowned as ‘Youth Ambassador’ 2009.
The requirement to enter in the beauty contest include: being 18 years of age and above, have a height of 1.68 m and above and one who has passions to work on the area concerning the youth.
“Beauty contest is an influential thing and we want to create a girl who can be a representative for the youth at the same time who can create awareness”, states Ketema on why they chose beauty contest
The winner will work for a year in different areas.
“The girl will be engaged in addressing youth issues with different groups be it with the government or with other institutions which work on the area of the youth. She will also represent Arbaminch and will work to promote the city”, explains Ketema
The event will also be highlighted in a concert where singers like Tedy yo, Tadesse Meketa and a comedian will take the stage.
Previously they organized a beauty contest entitled ‘Miss Tourism Adama’ which was held in International Tourism Day to show Oromiya region natural treasure.
After the beauty contest the organizers will directly go to in building a youth centre in Arbaminch city.
“This centre will have a library with internet services where the youth can educate and entertain themselves and the beauty contest will also act as a fundraising event for the centre”, concludes Ketema •