Quarterfinalist in the Miss World Guyana 2020 pageant Aliya Wong launched her Beauty With A Purpose project ‘Youth Development Through Mentor-ship and Sports’ last Saturday evening at the Sleepin International Hotel and Casino.
Aliya has seen the need for the development in both mentorship and sports in young people who are spending a large percentage of time behind technological inventions. Such rehabilitation will create a positive mindset in them, she said.
Saturday was also the launch of Aliya’s organization, the Youth Development Foundation (YDF). The date was a significant one as it was also Aliya’s 18th birthday.
A sports enthusiast herself, Aliya has a third-degree black belt in karate. She has attained numerous achievements including being the three-time champion in Pan American, South American and Caribbean competitions; she is also the national karate champion.
Aliya credited her mother for being her main inspiration, sharing that as she grew up, she would often walk into the family kitchen and see unfamiliar, but happy and satisfied faces of children who were being treated to breakfast. Her mother always encouraged Aliya to donate her clothing and extra school supplies along with cloth for uniforms to the less fortunate.
Coming from a home that taught her self-respect, diligence, kindness and to always strive for positive goals, she is saddened at the many societal ills prevalent in her West Demerara community: from teenage pregnancy to drug use and gang activities. She longed to do something to help and found herself wishing there were more home mentorship and positive activities for youth development, which also offered fun.
Thinking of what made her happy, Aliya realised it could be done through sports and incorporated this into her project to make learning and sharing fun. “I see these aspects as strong factors to help… in the moulding of our youths using a pro-social approach. … Being a youth myself with over a decade of being an athlete I can safely testify to the impact that these factors have in my life and this is what I want to share with my peers from today forth. No longer will I stay an observer, no longer will I just speak on issues, instead, from today… I am publicly making the decision to act; to be the change I want to see, to take the step on a journey that can change the lives of those around me. To leave my mark this time as water to the very seeds of our youths. To help nurture them with the resources that is necessary to grow them into the leaders of our future. This is my dream. A dream that with your help can become a reality. A dream we can all share,” she said.
Aliya said she knows firsthand that sports brings with it an array of benefits: friendships, scholarships, teamwork, confidence, leadership skills, discipline and vision. She thanked her parents for affording her such opportunities.
Donations were also made to the YDF and its team is already busy planning the execution of the next activity.
Aliya acknowledged those who aided in the launch: Renee Chester of Bromeliad.rnc, Jasmine Payne (JAM PR Services), Quinton Pearson (House of Pearson), The Imperial House, and her family.
“I am calling on all ministries, teachers, communities, schools and businesses. Let’s work together on making this dream become a reality. This foundation doesn’t just need finance in achieving our goals, No! Your service is a donation as well. Let’s not just be observers, let’s not just talk but let us act. There is a year of planned activities… Like the good old Guyanese proverb [says] ‘one, one dutty build dam’ and we are building a stronger Guyana. We are watering our youths, our future leaders, our future generation,” she said.
Aliya is one of 20 quarterfinalists vying for the Miss World Guyana 2020 crown.
