Miss Northern Civil Service, Sayal Singh , aims to retain the Miss Vodafone Festival of the Friendly North Crown.

In 2019, Alitia Kautoga, a school teacher from Ba, sponsored by Northern Civil Service won that year.

Then for two years there was no festival due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Miss Singh of Seaqaqa, Macuata Province is also a teacher, currently teaching at Batinikama College.

The 25-year-old’s advocacy message is on child protection.

“Given this opportunity to represent one of the largest employment sector in Northern Division, I feel honoured,” the second youngest of four siblings said.

“While my eye is on my crown I will be encouraging the larger population to work towards protecting our children.”

She said coming from a middle class family where her parents immensely play a vital role in her life, she hopes everyone lives happily and felt safe.

“As I speak there are children in our Friendly North abused or neglected either by loved ones or perpetrators,” she said.

“I still feel lot of work is needed to bring out unreported cases of child abuse to light.”

She suggested one of ways getting this done was by creating awareness of what kind of help were available for children.

The carnival began last Saturday.

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