Wanted: A new Miss Earth

The search is on for the new Green Glam Queen and organisers are calling for entries.Wednesday 8 April is the closing date for 2015 applications with national castings taking place thereafter.Castings roll out in the Free State on the 11th to 12th April and then move onto Johannesburg on the 18th to 19th April.

The Earth team then moves to the Western Cape, 24th to 25th April and lastly to Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal over the 1st to 3rd May.The castings are conducted as interviews and workshop sessions where each applicant is exposed to issues and challenges that the environmental sector is faced with, and how it impacts on our day to day living.

A project day is scheduled for each region, so that the participants are able to engage with the community and make a direct impact.Each lady goes away having grown, having learnt and seeing that they can make a difference. They are exposed to topics pertaining to climate change, energy efficiency, water as a resource, recycling and the broader scope of environmental education.

Imperial Toyota, Tsogo Sun, Cathay Pacific and Newsclip are on board for the 2015 campaign, ensuring that the young women have a successful and fruitful year ahead. Baobab Oil and Eco Products will form part of the workshops, along with Beauty without Cruelty programme, Healing Earth, Valpre Spring Water and Bijan Hair Boutique.

The programme is endorsed by the Department of Environmental Affairs and the Department of Tourism. The initiatives are run alongside municipalities and corporates that are seeking to impact the communities around them, whilst inputting and growing these young women; that carry the green message forward.

The Miss Earth South Africa organisation has added yet another award to their many accolades over the years.The year 2014 saw them scoop the International Environmental Award for Women in the Environment which was presented in the Philippines. These young women are making waves across the globe.

The current Miss Earth South Africa, Ilze Saunders and the Executive Director, Catherine Constantinides, ended off their year by accompanying the Honourable Minister of Environmental Affairs Mrs Edna Molewa; as part of the official South African delegation to Lima, Peru where they were a part of the UNFCCC COP 20.

The organisation has been acknowledged and recognised from within the environmental space, both nationally and internationally. This has allowed for a greater scope and awareness. This initiative is to develop young environmentalist trying to make a difference in South Africa and abroad.

Ella Bella and Catherine Constantinides are the founders of the Miss Earth South Africa leadership programme where they inspire and encourage young women around our beautiful country to get involved and do their bit for people and planet.

They often say; “It starts with us and as women we are the movers and shakers of communities, so it’s up to us to shake things up and get people thinking about ways in which they can help Mother Earth. When we look after Mother Earth she is then able to sustain and look after us.”

• Details: Visit www.missearthsa.co.za and follow them on twitter @missearth_sa or join them on facebook.