Beauty with a purpose: Miss World Caribbean partners with Hope Zoo

'Beauty with a purpose', it's the slogan for the Miss Jamaica World Organisation (MJWO); a purpose to positively change the lives of Jamaicans, and to keep it sustained through its ambassadors.

The MJWO has been doing just that as their partnership with the Hope Zoo revealed this purpose last week Saturday when the reigning Miss Jamaica World 2013 Gina Hargitay, in collaboration with Phoenix All-Stars Academy, treated their first batch of about 20 children from the Swallowfield Primary and Constant Spring Primary School to a trip to the zoo.

This partnership between the MJWO and the Hope Zoo is one of the charities of the reigning Miss Jamaica World Gina Hargitay, and is under the theme, 'Allowing children to enjoy their childhood while learning'. The programme will allow the MJWO to take 700 children to the zoo free of cost between January and March this year.

Head of the MJWO, Laura Butler, is enthusiastic about the strides that the organisation is making in terms of its charities, and is excited about their partnership with the Hope Zoo. She explained that children weren't getting enough playtime in their childhood and attributed this to the many ills in society. The children were taught about the importance of their environment and other issues that affect children.

Butler emphasised how happy she was to help organise an event like this and pointed out that one mother was even moved to tears because of how happy she was for the work the MJWO had done for the children.

power of the zoo

Miss Jamaica World 2013, Gina Hargitay, said it was amazing to organise this event. "It's incredible how such a simple thing like going to the zoo can mean so much," she said. She further explained that interaction with children and children's issues is something she is passionate about and will continue to fight for. The reigning Miss Jamaica World said that there is so much more to competitions like the Miss Jamaica World pageant, as they enable you to do so much for others.

Sponsorship is fundamental to the MJWO's goals being met, and is one of the reasons for the organisation planning two benefit nights partnering with the Jamaica Junior Theatre to help raise funds to achieve its goals.

The upcoming benefit nights will feature the play Aladdin, and is scheduled for 5 p.m. this Sunday, January 12 at the Phillip Sherlock Centre for the Performing Arts on the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, and also on Saturday, February 8, at 7:30 p.m. at the same venue.

Tickets are for $1,500 dollars and can be bought at Spartan Health Club. For persons wishing to support, you can call the MJWO at 812-5567 or to volunteer and donate, visit the Miss Jamaica World website and Facebook page.