The reigning queen Iampela Popena has used her platform to advocate for children with special needs, calling for greater access to education, facilities and essential services.
Speaking during the inaugural Miss Bird of Paradise Talent Show at the APEC Haus Port Moresby, Popena reflected on her journey when contesting for Miss Western Highlands and all the way in becoming Miss Bird of Paradise, saying the title has given her a platform to speak for people facing barriers in their daily lives.
Advocating for and supporting children with disabilities is one of the key areas of the Miss Bird of Paradise brand, with Popena using her reign to highlight the barriers children with special needs face in accessing education, facilities and services.
Popena said her advocacy for children with special needs began during her project week, when she focused on the barriers faced by children with disabilities, particularly in accessing schools.
She recalled visiting a disability organization located near Mt. Hagen General Hospital and meeting children and adults who faced difficulties accessing education, facilities, services and economic opportunities.
“When I walked into that room, I saw people just like you and me, children just like our children, but they have issues and barriers that stop them from getting education and accessing facilities and services,” Popena said.
She said the experience reinforced her belief that the Miss Bird of Paradise platform could be used to bring greater attention to people living with disabilities.
Popena said her visits to schools in Port Moresby, including St. Paul’s and her former school, St. Charles Luwanga further highlighted the need for schools to improve accessibility.
“They had children with special needs, and I had a couple of them. They were amazing. They were warm, they were funny, they had personality and they had so much energy,” she said.
However, she said inadequate facilities remained a concern.
Popena said accessibility infrastructure such as ramps is important in ensuring children with disabilities can attend school alongside other children.
“Our children with special needs deserve to go to school, regardless if they don’t walk, talk, speak or hear,” she said.
Popena also used the talent show to raise funds for projects supporting children with special needs.
Following her speech, she invited attendees to have photographs taken with her in exchange for donations, with proceeds directed toward her advocacy work and projects supporting children with disabilities.
She encouraged sponsors and members of the audience to contribute to the initiative and become part of efforts to improve opportunities for children with special needs.
“I take myself, as a charity organization and also the Miss Bird of Paradise platform, to stand and to be a voice and an image to reflect these people,” Popena said.
She said the fundraising initiative would support projects in schools in her home province of Western Highlands, Port Moresby and other parts of the country.
Popena said she hoped the initiative would continue beyond her reign and encourage future Miss Bird of Paradise titleholders to take up similar projects, keeping advocacy for children with disabilities as part of the Miss Bird of Paradise brand.
