PROFILE – NARDA ELS

1.     Born: 7 August 1961 -  South Africa (Durban).

2.     Secondary Education: Transoranje School for the Deaf, South Africa (Pretoria).

3.     Employer: SA Army, School of Signals, Wonderboom, South Africa (Pretoria)

4.     Years of Service: 18 years.

5.     Current Position: Data First Typist

6.     Current Education Educational Course: Career Development at DCD (PSAP)

7.     Community Service: Miss Deaf South Africa Pageant.

I am the co-main organizer of the prestigious Miss Deaf South Africa pageant 

The pageants take place in the ten provinces of South Africa and are highly valued and appreciated among the Deaf and hearing communities, since this is an opportunity to showcase the hidden talent and beauty of the “Deaf World”.

My involvement in this pageant dates back to 2001. I am responsible for the project management as well as for logistics. My responsibilities are varied since I am work on the project from the conceptualization phase until a queen is crowned.

My decision to become involved in this project stems from a deep sense of pride in my deafness and my Deaf community. My aim with this project is to assist Deaf and hard of hearing young women to celebrate their youth in beauty, responsibility and awareness.

The function of the Miss Deaf South Africa pageant is to lobby and arrange awareness campaigns to sensitize the hearing communities to the unique culture of Deaf people as well as their needs. In her year of reign Miss Deaf South Africa will also be an ambassador for the Deaf community and must at all times be proud of her deafness and continue to educate the hearing community so as to speed up the process of sensitization.

The successes of the pageant are invaluable, to us as the organizers, the pageant queen and the Deaf community. Miss Deaf South Africa is the largest pageant for the Deaf in Africa and the 2^nd  largest pageant for the Deaf in the world.

Among the success:

1^st Miss Deaf SA – Susan Krige, who represented SA at the international pageant of Miss Deaf World.

2^nd Miss Deaf SA – Candice Morgan, who won the title as Miss Deaf World, a 1^st for SA.

3^rd Miss Deaf SA – Carin Marais, who represented SA at the International pageant of Miss Deaf World.

4^th Miss Deaf SA – Terneil Oppel, who will represented SA at the International pageant of Miss Deaf World.

5^th Miss Deaf SA – Portia Oliver-Did not partake in the Miss Deaf World pageant due to the withdrawal of the sponsorship by the Miss Deaf World organizers on very short notice!

6^th Miss Deaf SA – Vicki Fourie, who will represent SA at the International pageant of Miss Deaf International 2010 in Las Vegas USA.

It is our vision and also motivation to be represented on an international platform such as the Miss Deaf International pageant. The vision and passion is however sometimes blurred due to insufficient funding.

My personal growth on this project is invaluable since it contributes to my spiritual growth as a person. It enhances my interpersonal and social skills and adds much value to my existence, knowing that I am enabling and assisting the Deaf community in reaching their goals within the pageant of Miss Deaf South Africa.