Lerato Matheka MASERU — A dance competition to promote the use of the female condom.
That sounds weird.
But five institutions of higher learning will next month converge in Maseru for that very purpose.
The Inter Campus Dance competition seeks to promote the use of the female condom among students at institutions of higher learning.
The competition is being organised by a female condom brand, Silk-ee, in conjunction with Stocksweet Entertainment.
Dance groups from the National University of Lesotho, Lerotholi Polytechnic, Limkokwing University of Creating Technology and Lesotho Agricultural College are expected to take part.
One of the organisers, Limakatso
Mokobocho, said they want to encourage young girls to practise safe sex through the use of the Silk-ee female condoms.
“The competition aims to break the norm that it is only men who should take the responsibility to practise safe sex,” Mokobocho said.
“Through the competition we are basically empowering young women to take charge in advocating the usage of female condoms.”
She added: “We are trying to reduce the high rate of unwanted pregnancies and curb the rate of HIV infections among young women in local universities and colleges.”
At 23 percent Lesotho has the third highest HIV prevalence rate in the world.
Aids is killing an estimated 20 000 people every year, according to United Nations figures.
Mokobocho said their project seeks to empower women and help them break barriers that hinder them from realising their career dreams.
“We are telling the young women that it is not a men’s world and that they can also be whatever they want.
“Last year we had a ladies DJ competition and this year we are having a dance competition to help build their skills in their areas of interest,” Mokobocho said.
She added that the campaign is a pilot project which could be rolled out to the rest of the country.
“We will examine the impact of the campaign with a view to rolling it out to the rest of the colleges in the country if it proves a success.”
Tello “Dallas T” Leballo, from Stocksweet Entertainment, said the campaign will begin mid-February where institutions will select the best three dance groups to compete in the finals at the end of the month.
“Since we are promoting Silk-ee as a female condom brand, it is recommended that there should be at least 70 percent ladies within the dance groups so as to stick to the theme.”
Leballo said there will be prize monies up for grabs.
The first prize is M3 000 and a Silk-ee hamper, while the second prize is M2 000 and a Silk-ee hamper.
The third prize winners will walk away with M1 000.
“We are expecting three dance groups from each of the five institutions,” Leballo said.