City outstanding models awarded
THE Junior Chamber International (JCI) organisation recently appreciated local talent by giving awards to artistes and models at a Bulawayo leisure spot.
The non-profit organisation started working with the youths in January, focusing on motivating and empowering young active citizens from the age of 18 to 40 into being active citizens in their communities.
The projects director, Nigel Shamu, said the organisation aimed at grooming and promoting local talent.
“JCI is a worldwide community of young active citizens who share a belief that in order to create positive change they have to take collective action to improve their selves and the world around them, our local Chapter is called JCI Khumalo. We encourage the youth to identify problems in their communities and inclusively create solutions that will make an impact. We offer personal development and community development opportunities to our members through various trainings and community projects.
“With regards to the cocktail awards and induction dinner it was our way of recognising and appreciating those people who have been working hard to succeed in their respective careers. We have been working with musicians, models and youths at large to make an impact in our society and offering developmental opportunities to them. For instance we have trained models on choreography, impact and administration courses, effective speaking, etiquette and project management. We were awarding those who have made a resounding impact. We were economically empowering them at the same time creating our own celebrities,” he said.
He added that they have trained a lot of models who are now professionals.
“We have girls who had not modelled in their lives but have made it on international platforms like Talent Sibanda who will be representing Zimbabwe on Miss Deaf world, Jemima Mandemwa our I am Africa Queen, the reigning Miss Super Globe Zimbabwe and will be representing us in Dubai in for Miss Super Globe world.
“On the night we awarded about 15 people, Kelvin Makhosi for Most Promising Afro jazz
Musician, Pardon Khayaelihle Khanye the best choreographer, Jemima Mandemwa for the most promising member in service to humanity and the most dedicated member the poet and motivational speaker Thandanani Gumede,” he said.
Khanye and Mandemwa shared the same sentiments about how JCI has made an impact in their careers.
“JCI for me has been a gateway to a lot of opportunities. I have managed to work with a lot of stakeholders through the organisation and they sponsor most of my events. I would say they have changed a whole lot of youths’ lives because they make sure they keep the youths off the streets by doing events that empower their projects, at the end of the day crime, early pregnancy and drug abuse is fought by what the organisation is doing,” said Khanye.
Shamu said a fashion show has been slated for 16 November to give a platform to budding models and designers.
“We also have an environmental workshop awareness campaign on the dangers of mercury being spearhead by Miss Mines Nazarine Ngirazi,” he said.