The Vodafone Friendly North Festival starts today with seven queens and three kings taking part at Subrail Park in Labasa.
The festival is being held under the theme “Healthy Youth, Wealthy North” and will focus on fundraising for major health projects in the Northern Division.
Speaking to fijivillage News, Festival President Mohammed Saiyum says the organisers are aiming to raise between $340,000 and $350,000 this year.
He says the funds will go towards establishing an ENT centre to address conditions affecting the ear, nose and throat, and purchasing medical equipment, including a cardiac stress treadmill and equipment for bone marrow testing.
Saiyum says the projects are aimed at benefiting the wider community and is calling on people in the North to support the festival.
Meanwhile, among this year’s contestants is 22-year-old Bernice Waikarawa from Nabalebale Village in Savusavu who is sponsored by the Fiji Sugar Corporation and is a part-time student at the University of the South Pacific, is advocating against drug and substance abuse among young people in the North.
She says if crowned Miss Friendly North, she would focus on creating awareness in communities about the harmful effects of drugs and encouraging young people to work together against substance abuse.
The programme began today with a float from Holy Family Church to Subrail Park at 1pm, with the official programme scheduled for 7pm.
