On Monday, March 23, 2026, the 7th Open Competition of National Cultures, Creativity, and Beauty "Grace International" kicked off in Vitebsk. Mapenzi Kitalano Beni, a student of the Faculty of International Cooperation from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is participating.
On the first day, the organizers held a briefing with all the participants. The students had the opportunity to get to know each other, introduce themselves, and discuss organizational matters. This year, Beni is participating alongside representatives from countries such as India, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, China, Lebanon, Turkmenistan, Belarus, and Russia.
Following the introductions, a draw was held, during which it was determined that Beni would perform second in the final. That evening, the participants gathered at the Vitebsk Concert Hall for the first rehearsal of the fashion show.
Every day is scheduled down to the minute. The students have already visited several Vitebsk businesses and companies. The tourism campaign included a full cultural program for the students, featuring Belarusian songs, dances, and musical instruments.
Tourists also took them to Vitebsk Carpets, where they learned about the carpet-making process, the company's history, and production technologies. They also visited higher education institutions in the northern capital. Beni, along with other participants, visited the Design Department of the Vitebsk State Technological University, where they saw how interior design projects are developed and the programs students use for modeling and animation. The students also had the opportunity to see real creative workshops, where students from the department shared their current projects and even demonstrated how fashion collections are created. Other participants also visited the Masherov Vitebsk State University and the Vitebsk State Medical University.
In addition, the competition participants took part in a flower-laying ceremony at the monument to soldiers, partisans, and underground fighters of the Vitebsk region on Victory Square as part of an event dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the start of the Great Patriotic War.
The Cheerleading and Audience Choice Awards kicked off today, and the finals are tomorrow. We wish Beni victory!
