Randburg resident Victoria Kitley has reached the finals in the Miss Earth South Africa pageant, proving that beauty is worth a lot more when paired with intelligence and a big heart.
The pageant aims to empower young South African women with the knowledge and platform to create a sustainable difference in the plight to combat the destruction of our natural heritage.
Kitley recently visited Vuleka St Mark’s Primary in Northriding, where she helped pupils to plant 10 trees donated by Lifestyle Garden Centre in Boskruin.
“It was an amazing experience,” said Kitley with enthusiasm, “and one that I am very proud to have been a part of.”
She continued to express her astonishment with how clever and intuitive the pupils were. “They are just so hungry for knowledge and so eager to learn despite their circumstances. They listened attentively and wanted to get involved wherever they could.”
In Kitley’s opinion, the school and its teachers are doing an outstanding job in teaching their pupils about environmental awareness. “I was really impressed by how much they already knew.”
At the end of her day at the school, after giving a talk on the importance of taking care of the environment and also World Environment Day on 5 June, one young pupil stunned her.
“He stuck up his hand eagerly and said: ‘But Miss, surely we should be aware of the environment every day and not just dedicate one day for public awareness?’ ”
The Miss Earth finalists said she was proud to teach children who have a bright future and to walk away learning more from them than they learned from her.
Originally from Stellenbosch, Kitley first studied screen production as an undergraduate and then went on to complete her honours degree in Environmental Science at the University in Cape Town before moving to Randburg.
Details: www.missearthsouthafrica.co.za.
