AS a child , young Celicia Campbell always tried to find a way to help in the development of her hometown of Mabaruma and when she found out she was selected to be a quarterfinalist in the Miss World Guyana 2020 pageant, she knew immediately where to take her campaign for the crown.

At 19, Campbell is competing with several other young women in the national pageant and like her colleagues, she is working on a community project which she noted was on her bucket-list.

She decided to launch her Beauty with a Purpose Campaign at Mabaruma and over the next few weeks, Campbell said she will be making several trips to the area to undertake several projects as part of her campaign.

“I am giving myself the opportunity to grow, to be confident, to raise my voice for those who are unheard and be a better version of myself,” she said of her efforts.
With her plans set in motion, Campbell, who moved to the city from Mabaruma a year ago to undergo studies in tertiary education, has managed to raise funds from the business community in the town to assist others.

She said she is focusing on assisting the needy in the town and neighbouring villages. A back-to-school drive, as well as discussions with youths in the area, is among the feats she has accomplished thus far.

When she arrived at Mabaruma last week, she said she observed the influx of Venezuelan nationals at the town and it touched her heart.

“They come with nothing, no money, they have shelter,” she said, adding that she has been encouraging residents to help the Spanish-speaking nationals in whatever way they can because, according to her, they too deserve a better life.

Campbell, who was born and raised in Mabaruma, said she is confident about doing well in the pageant. She said although it is a competition, she believes the platform provides her with the ability to think beyond pageantry.

“It all begins with your mind, how you think on the inside is what manifests itself on the outside,” the young woman noted.

Born and raised at Mabaruma, Campbell said that growing up in the town was challenging since she was raised in a single-parent family.

“My mother was always away working so my siblings and I had to learn to fend for ourselves at an early age,” she said.

Although the challenges were against her, she said she was determined to bring about a change, not only in her community but the region and further afield.
“The youths in our community need to take education and opportunities offered seriously if they want to better themselves and our community,” Campbell said.