As part of Miss Earth South Africa’s Earth Day celebrations, 20 trees were planted at Ormonde Primary School on April 22.
The deputy principal, Matimba Ndlovu, welcomed the team with open arms and thanked them for involving the youth in the project.
Southern Sun and Miss Earth South Africa will continue their 10-year partnership and celebrate it at a press conference held in Rosebank, Johannesburg, at 54 on Bath, which is a luxury boutique hotel.
“The Miss Earth South Africa organisation is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and we are delighted to renew our partnership with Southern Sun, which has been the official sponsor of the organisation since 2013,” said Catherine Constantinides, executive director of the Miss Earth South Africa Leadership Development Programme.
Having dreamed of this 20 years ago, Catherine and her sister Ella Bella Leite are looking back with a smile. “We can celebrate our past and our future,” they said.
Looking after our planet
The Miss Earth SA team planted 20 wild olive trees donated by Wildlands at the school and they also donated Spekboom (Portulacaria Afra), which is indigenous to South Africa.
“This succulent plant is also so easy to grow and has so many interesting benefits. From being used as a fire barrier, grown as a hedge, used to soothe mosquito bites, or even as a part of a salad, to name but a few,” said Ella Bella.
“Spekboom is called a miracle plant, and can absorb huge quantities of carbon monoxide, and that is why it is so sought after.”
To ensure the longevity of these trees, the organisation used a soil enhancer to lock in nutrients and moisture during planting. Compost was also added as it is full of micro and macronutrients that are essential for soil health and tree growth.
The compost is made from quality organic materials that are weed free and environmentally friendly, the compost was generously donated by GEBCO. The Spekboom were donated by Servest.
Since 2003, Miss Earth South Africa has planted 53 218 trees in South Africa, and this number continues to grow.
“Earth Day calls for the attention of ordinary citizens to stop and think. We take from the earth, but we do not give back,” said Catherine.
“The question then is what happens after Earth Day? How do we follow through and continue the ethos of reducing and being aware of our actions every day of the year?”
Miss Earth encourages everyone to make every day an Earth Day.
A bright future ahead
With a focus on solution-oriented environmental education and awareness, the Miss Earth South Africa Leadership Development Programme works with young women to tackle the micro and macro concerns within the climate change and environmental sustainability space, including food security, waste management and protection of our oceans, among others.
“By working with young women throughout the country, we are developing a generation of role models who take action on the ground and inspire lasting positive change in our communities. Environmental education and awareness are critical in combatting climate change and the legacy of the programme, which speaks for itself, is evident in the results of the many effective projects we have initiated over the last two decades,” said Catherine.
“Using natural resources responsibly and minimising waste is important to our long-term sustainability, and we make every effort to manage our hotels with due care to limit our impact on the environment.
“Awareness and education are important to the delivery of our environmental management objectives and our partnership with Miss Earth South Africa has proven to be an effective means of assisting with this,” said Candy Tothill, head of corporate affairs, brands and marketing for Southern Sun.
The announcement was held on the eve of Earth Day, with Southern Sun’s 54 on Bath hotel being chosen to host it because 2023 marks seven years since the 54th tree was planted at the hotel as part of the partnership’s Africa Day project, which saw one tree planted for each of the 54 countries on the African continent.
The 54th tree at 54 on Bath continues to flourish today.
Celebrating the past
Having started from humble beginnings and big dreams, the Miss Earth South Africa journey has been remarkable. This organisation has scooped several awards and accolades over the years, both nationally and internationally.
Catherine Constantinides and Ella Bella Leite have a deep understanding and knowledge of the environment and the challenges that our globe is faced with, and this knowledge is coupled with an unrivalled passion.
They have addressed summits across the globe, climate conferences and international gatherings. They have engaged with presidents, ambassadors, and ministers. They have interacted with diplomats, children and communities across the continent.
Activists have left no stone unturned as they strive to promote the environmental agenda. The aim has been to develop young environmentalists that can be active and will become decision-makers and leaders, both in South Africa and across the globe.
The aim is to inspire and encourage young women around our beautiful country to be involved and to be active citizens, making better decisions and changing mindsets, as we build our nation.
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. Sustainability must be at the basis of our daily lives, habits and consumer choices,” they said.
“Two decades; that’s unbelievable. I look over my shoulder at the years gone by, and I can’t believe, the long and amazing road that Ella and I have walked,” said Catherine.
“The journey has been filled with the eager faces of young women, eager to learn and to live eco-conscious lives. This initiative has allowed us to visit every corner of our land and to understand the environmental challenges, which are impacted by socio-economic circumstances while speaking of climate change and looking at the challenges affecting communities.
“We have made a difference, and I say that with humility and gratitude to those that have supported us. We have always recognised and understood the challenges that our people and society are faced with. It has been twenty years that have been filled with memories, actions and change.”
Be part of the change
The organisation has been a spark of youth activism, volunteerism and stewardship in environmental awareness.
The past two decades have seen them bringing together young South Africans of diverse social and cultural backgrounds to contribute their share to saving planet Earth.
Their contribution through dialogue, action and youth-friendly activities have added a voice to the cry for sustainability, and the protection of the environment and conservation, in the wake of the climate emergency that we face.
Some of the most recent campaigns have been with a clear and passionate focus on waste, food security, climate change education, urban conservation and ocean and marine protection.
This is a landmark year as the organisation marks two decades, and the search is on for a powerful and capable young woman that will be part of the cohort of young earth warriors that mark the start of the next decade of environmental impact by the organisation.
Young South African women who want to be part of this exciting platform and journey as they learn, grow, connect with their communities and leave lasting footprints of change can log on to the Miss Earth South Africa social media platforms for more details: @MissEarth_SA or message on WhatsApp to 082 5050 644.
