The Miss Africa USA Pageant and the DC Chapter of Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) strengthened their ongoing partnership by holding a special cultural and educational program at the First Friday: Art Walk Dupont Circle. During the one-man exhibit by renowned Sierra Leonean artist Sahr Songu Mbriwa, known professionally as Bondumani, Miss Africa USA titleholders joined YHRI to promote human rights awareness through art, outreach, and community engagement.
Bondumani, whose work in hyperrealism has been showcased on CNN, displayed a dozen pieces recently brought from Sierra Leone and gave a live demonstration of his technique. He is the founder of the Bondumani School of Art in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and while in the U.S., he is working to gain support for free art lessons for talented youth in Sierra Leone who otherwise might not be able to afford tuition.
Ambassador Amara Sheikh Mohammad Sowa of Sierra Leone attended as a special guest, delivering remarks on the importance of art in society. Miss Africa USA Diana Melissa Ngoumape spoke about her commitment to empowering women, and First Princess Adeola Shonubi, also the new President of Youth for Human Rights Maryland, emphasized the importance of human rights.
Organizer Beth Akiyama, Executive Director of the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office and former board member of YHRI, stated, "People of every nation must know their 30 human rights. Governments of the world must make the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights known and followed for the sake of peace and prosperity for all." She thanked the ambassador and his staff for supporting Bondumani's work.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), created after World War II, includes 30 rights that all people have universally. Yet surveys show few people know what their human rights are. Educational materials from Youth for Human Rights International are available free at www.youthforhumanrights.org, with additional DC Chapter updates at Facebook.com/YHRDC.
The partnership between Miss Africa USA and YHRI fosters opportunities for youth to champion human rights education across communities in the U.S. and abroad. Earlier this year, they participated in a program in Cameroon to bring human rights education to schools. Founded by Dr. Lady Kate Ndi 20 years ago, the Miss Africa USA Pageant has long championed humanitarian leadership among African women in the diaspora.
The event engaged more than 100 attendees, enlightening them on the free educational materials from YHRI. This collaboration highlights the importance of human rights education and the role of art in raising awareness. As YHRI celebrates its 25th anniversary, the partnership underscores a continued commitment to educating youth on the UDHR worldwide.
