Tamlin-Jade Johnson (22) was looking for a way to get involved in helping people when she visited the Fourways food market, with friends, early this year.
What this Solheim girl didn’t know was that she would soon be a regional semi-finalist for the Miss Earth South Africa 2015 title.
Miss Earth South Africa is a leadership programme that aims to empower young South African women with the knowledge and the platform to create a sustainable difference in combating the destruction of SA’s natural heritage.
Tamlin-Jade, a born-and-bred Germiston girl, has spent time in both Kenya and Tanzania, it was there that her love for helping people blossomed.
“I thought of becoming an environmental lawyer but, in Grade 11, I knew without a doubt I wanted to become a physiotherapist,” she explained.
Following this dream, she matriculated from Assumption Convent before studying physiotherapy at the University of the Witwatersrand.
She currently works at the Bertha Gxowa Hospital.
“I believe that the government hospitals are where people really need your help,” she said.
“I love that you can make a huge impact on someone’s life with just a bit of attention and the right care.”
As part of her work as a Miss Earth regional semi-finalist Tamlin was given the choice of starting a waste management project or a vegetable garden at a local school.
She decided to partner with the Rebontsheng Primary School, in Vosloorus, Boksburg, and started a vegetable garden that the school’s students and parents can maintain.
Gloria Somoro, a Grade Five teacher at the school, spoke to the GCN about the positive impact the garden has had.
“Not only will the vegetable garden help with the school’s feeding scheme, it has also prompted the children to start their own gardens at home,” she said.
“We attempted to start a garden a year or so ago and, although it didn’t do well, the children loved the idea of having a vegetable garden and would still water and de-weed it long after the plants had died.”
Thirty-five Grade Five pupils were chosen to help Tamlin plant the garden.
“Before planting the garden Tamlin came and taught the children how to grow a plant from a seed, using cotton wool,” said Gloria.
“They are so excited to see the progress their seeds are making.”
Tamlin hopes this vegetable garden will help the children to learn healthy eating habits that they will carry into adulthood.
She will begin a new project in June.
“I am hoping to work with the Avril Elizabeth Home, but will begin planning once this project is completed,” she explained.
The Miss Earth South Africa 2015 finalists will be named in July; will Tamlin be one of them?
