Contestants from several countries gathered in Dublin for a multicultural pageant that combined cultural celebration with an educational message about drug prevention.
Approximately 450 people attended the Dublin programme, where 24 contestants representing seven nations presented their cultures, talents and personal messages.
The organisers worked with The Truth About Drugs Ireland to include an educational element alongside the pageant and cultural performances.
Participants were invited to explore educational materials explaining the risks and effects associated with drug abuse. Many of the contestants studied Truth About Drugs materials in advance, and several completed the full series of Truth About Drugs fourteen online courses.
The Mayor of South Dublin praised the contestants for using their public platform to promote informed choices and stronger communities.
The pageant was accompanied by a diverse cultural programme featuring dancers from several community organisations.
The principal title was awarded to Niveditha Vudayagiri, a software engineer who holds a master’s degree in AI. The first runner-up title went to Fortunate Lindokuhle Masina, followed by Yuki Yuliatin as second runner-up.
The event demonstrated how multicultural celebrations can also provide a platform for education, responsibility and positive community engagement. The complete story can be read in this report about the multicultural pageant combining cultural celebration with drug education.