Berkeleys Next Top Role Model

When? April 27th, 2012, 6-9 PM Where? Chevron Auditorium (International House)

Information Packet

About Us
Empathy FX International is a social not-for-profit, non-governmental venture that builds and sustains schools in the remote villages of Ghana. We believe that access to quality education will provide the necessary tools for a future generation in Ghana to overcome the destructive cycles of poverty and gender disparity. Our mission is ultimately to provide access to education for the impoverished children in the Ghanaian villages and we work toward this by spreading awareness, fundraising for schools through programs and selling apparel, and personally planning a curriculum that traveling volunteers can use to teach the children. With our founding branches in Berkeley and Ghana, we work together and are held mutually responsible for identifying and meeting the needs of schools we have built in Ghana.

About the Pageant

Ghana, like many other developing countries in the world, is extremely impoverished and exhibits high levels of gender inequality. Women, especially in poor rural areas, frequently face abuse and disempowerment in villages from traditionally superior males and are silenced by their low and subordinate position in society. Traditional practices and social norms often deny women their constitutional rights, entitlements to inheritance and property, and their integrity. The purpose of the first annual Berkeleys Next Top Role Model is to bring light to the pressing issue of gender inequality and spread awareness of the real life struggles women in Ghana, and around the world, face daily. Since most beauty pageants are associated with womanizing and displaying contestants as objects of sexuality and beauty, our so-called pageant will actually be a backwards one. Instead of judging our contestants based on their beauty and ability to look amazing in a swimsuit, we want to showcase the strength, power, and intelligence of women here at Berkeley as the embodiment of hope and a role model for women around the world. With each pageant contestant representing their respective majors or department at U.C Berkeley, they will be judged on their criteria of academic performance, physical fitness, individual talent, and poise in speech. Furthermore, each contestant will be personally sponsoring a childs education in Ghana, and our goal is to raise $893 to sponsor every child in the village to go to school just like us. The winner of the contest will rightfully earn the title of Berkeleys Next Top Role Model 2012, and serve as the ultimate role model for not just women, but children worldwide who aspire to empower themselves through knowledge and education.

Pageant Criteria
You will be judged on the following four skills that comprise the pageant.* They are as follows: academics, physical fitness, talent, and speech. Each section is worth 25% of the overall scale. 1. Academic Performance: o Intelligence is one of the key factors in being a role model. Being able to display it through academic performance is thus an essential component of empowerment through education. Contestants will submit an unofficial UC transcript that will be reviewed by the judges. 2. Physical Fitness: o Being able to portray strength is another significant trait that breaks out of traditional patrilineal norms. Women should be able to proudly show their physical prowess and present it in a non-stigmatized light. Contestants will each perform a routine exercise that will highlight their physical conditioning and is judged on an objective scale. Athletic attire must be worn. 3. Display of Talent: o Whereas the previous two skills are based off of quantifiable variables, displaying an individual talent greatly differentiates each contestant as unique figures. This talent can be anything in particular, so long as the contestant feels it magnifies herself as an individual while maintaining the theme of the pageant. 4. Poise in Speech: o Lastly, each contestant will deliver a 60-90 second speech in an evening gown. During dress rehearsal, roughly a week before the pageant, the contestant will receive a list of potential questions related to their major/college. The question itself will correlate with how the contestant would use her major/college for the betterment of poverty and/or women empowerment. The contestant will be judged on poise and the manner and tone of her speech. *Contestants are expected to have the appropriate attires for the different segments of the competition, which includes: - Clean tennis shoes - Athletic shorts - Athletic top - Evening gown (**gown needs to be of appropriate ankle length) - Talent costume In addition, dress rehearsal attendance is mandatory for all contestants. Please make sure you can make it!

Calendar of Important Events March 2012

Sun. 11 12 Mon. 13 Tues. 14 Wed. 15 Thurs. 16 Fri. 17 Sat.

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23 Application Due @ Midnight! 30 Spring Break

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April 2012
Sun. 1 Mon. 2 Early Bird Ticket Sale begins! 9 3 Tues. 4 Wed. 5 Thurs. 6 Fri. 7 Sat.

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14 Regular Ticket Sale begins. 21

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20 Dress Rehearsal 27 SHOW!

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Ticket Sale Information: Early-bird & performer* tickets: $10 Regular tickets: $15