Edenvale resident and Mrs South Africa 2021 Thenji Mdluli is not only about the crown and beauty, she is also an ambassador for healthy living and nutrition.
The queen is touching lives through her girls initiative, Girls Dig Deep, which is all about empowering women and girls by providing them with opportunities and support at all stages of their development.
This will ultimately lead them into the agricultural space, a predominantly male industry.
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“The words ‘dig deep’ have a double meaning. It encourages young girls to think about nutrition, health, soil, gardening and ultimately agriculture, but we also would like them to dig deep into themselves to find their unique and authentic talents and gifts.
“This will empower them to confidently follow their own path regardless of their home circumstances or what society dictates,” said Thenji.
She said she has always been passionate about nutrition because of her upbringing.
“I grew up in a township where non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease, type II diabetes and hypertension, were not only a norm, they seemed inevitable.
“As I got older and had a family of my own, I began researching the best possible ways to keep my family healthy.
“I discovered that so many ailments could be avoided by simply making better lifestyle decisions.
“I started by simply providing the children with buckets of vegetables and fruits, but the dream evolved because I wanted to give them long-term solutions and allow them to be self-sufficient,” said Thenji.
Girls Dig Deep has partnered with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development that has an initiative called the Landcare Programme.
This employs a conservation agriculture system that offers hope for greater productivity, food security, job creation and better quality of life for all.
The department also runs a Junior Care Programme that aims to address the plight of malnutrition in the younger population.
“We are excited to have partnered with the department on this initiative because they are supporting the same ideas on nutrition.
“We immediately collaborated to ensure we have a wider reach and could share ideas on the causes we were so committed to working on to ensure success,” said Thenji.
She said she is happy to be able to teach young girls.
“During my school visits, I picked up that the children, particularly the young girls, didn’t believe they could create a sustainable income through their businesses or work in the agricultural space.
“They did not believe they could be self-sufficient or could even grow their own vegetables at home in order to create a nutritious diet for themselves and their families. I wanted to change that mindset,” said Thenji.
She said she hopes this project addresses the food security crisis.
“Covid-19 has exposed the food crisis, which we plan to address.
“This will be done through projects that will include planting vegetable gardens, providing support to up-and-coming farmers, upskilling the youth through agricultural learning institutions and rigorously promoting conservation agriculture,” said Thenji.
She said she is humbled and grateful to have a platform like Mrs South Africa because it has allowed her to impact others.
“I have been given a powerful platform and I do not take the responsibility lightly. It has not always been easy, but I am committed to making a difference and being of service.
“I want to leave a legacy that will continue long after my reign ends. I ensure each initiative I embark on creates a ripple effect in changing people’s lives,” said Thenji.
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