Durban eco-activist aims for Miss Earth title
Victoria Soutar's motivation to enter Miss Earth South Africa comes from a determination to make a sustainable difference in South Africa.
GLENWOOD eco-activist, Victoria Soutar, is taking part in the Miss Earth South Africa in Johannesburg this week.
The born and bred Durban girl, who grew up on the Ridge in Glenwood and schooled at St Henry’s Marist College, was raised from a young age to be an environmental activist.
Victoria used to accompany her father to meetings and marches aimed at protecting endangered wildlife areas such as the Hawaan forests in Umhlanga and the Mangrove Swamps in the bay of Durban.
“I think that sparked something in me. My school career consisted of running the outreach portfolio, being apart of Durban Youth Council Environmental and Infrastructure portfolio and in my Grade 11 and matric years I received my service scroll and was awarded a community service bursary from Allan Collin,” she said.
Victoria moved on to study environmental management and geography at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and is now undertaking her Masters in Food Security.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzxZFgSHPzD/
She also worked in the Rural Development Sector at LIMA Rural Development Foundation for two years and currently practices as an environmental management consultant and a product quality consultant.
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“My motivation to enter Miss Earth South Africa comes from my background in the environmental and rural development sector, with my knowledge in the field and my determination to make a sustainable difference in South Africa. I felt like the Miss Earth South Africa pageant could be an opportunity for me to direct and lead the cause and make educated and knowledgeable project decisions,” she said.
We were in Diepsloot planting trees and educating pupils on the importance of trees for our environment. I had the cutest grade 3s helping me plant our tree which they named “freedom” for Mandela Day – how relevant.
Thank you @Servest_SA for donating trees 🌲 #MissEarth2019 pic.twitter.com/piDQWf6NG2— Victoria O’Sullivan (@vicsouts) July 11, 2019
During her reign as a finalist she has run beach clean ups, river clean ups, given environmental awareness talks and met with a few children’s homes to talk about the importance of recycling and alternatives to waste disposal.
“I have partnered with amazing like-minded companies and individuals who have all been so supportive in my journey and have raised over R7 000 for the Miss Earth Foundation,” she said.
Victoria has a drive to collect as well as to educate communities on recycling, e-waste and its correct disposal, and uses her social media platforms to show the impact of single use plastics and other every day items that can be replaced by more eco-friendly options.
“I look forward to partnering and working with brands and companies that work towards sustainability and sustainable use of our natural resources,” she said.
Contact Victoria at victoriasoutar@yahoo.com or follow her journey via Instagram/ Twitter.
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