THE importance of parental engagement within households is a key topic that Lebaiwasa Wakawaka will advocate strongly on during the Vodafone Sugar Festival this week.
Ms Wakawaka, one of five contestants vying for the crown, is sponsored by Unique Sounds Entertainment and Events.
The week-long festival is underway at the Churchill Park carnival grounds in Lautoka.
Ms Wakawaka, a third year law student at the University of Fiji, believes the festival is a very good platform to test her confidence level because “maybe, in a few years to come, it will be part of my job description”.
“I believe that when parents engage themselves in the day-to-day activities of their children, it boosts academic achievement and improves social and emotional skills and also helps prevent unhealthy behaviour,” Ms Wakawaka said.
She said emerging issues such as drug abuse and teenage pregnancies stemmed from the lack of parental engagement.
Ms Wakawaka hopes to expand her advocacy on this topic if she is crowned Ms Vodafone Sugar.
Her long-term plans include pursuing civil law after graduating in 2027 and after nine years, she will start her own law firm.
