Buy a lollipop for charity

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Beauty contests mainly used to be about looking good but now more and more, they are about doing good.

Stefano Buitendag, aged only five, is the reigning Little Mr Garden Route and Little Mr Western Cape. Now he is vying for the Little Mr Mzantzi Africa title and preparing for the pageant which takes place in December.

Last year Stefano sold an impressive 600 lollipops to raise money for charities as part of the national Poverty Sucks campaign, run by the RoleModels Foundation.

The beneficiaries of the campaign are the Imfundo Project which supports preschool children; Switch (Standing with individuals to change hurt) which assists "teenagers under pressure"; Asanté Neo Life which assists abused women and single mothers; and the Tamakhulu Project, which supports senior citizens.

Stefano will be selling lollipops again this year in Mossel Bay at R10 each as part of his charity work required to enter his next pageant.

The Poverty Sucks lollipops cost R10 each.

Stefano's mom, Steffi Buitendag, is planning a fundraising event for 3 July at the Playhouse venue at the Diaz Hotel in Mossel Bay.

She would also like to organise a fundraiser at the Van Riebeeck Stadium.

The more funds Stefano raises, the money he will be giving to charity and the more "rewards" and accolades he achieves in the pageant.

If you would like to support him in his efforts or sponsor him in any way, contact his mom, Steffi (079 411 4563). Also see Stefano's facebook page, Stefano Buitendag - Mr Mzantzi Africa contestant.

Stefano Buitendag.