Miss Earth SA: planetary guardians
MISS EARTH South Africa has encouraged South African women to apply for this year’s competition in its search for the country’s next Green Glam Queen.
This leadership programme seeks to develop young minds and inspire young women, who in turn, touch lives and ignite greener cities.
Miss Earth SA is this year celebrating its 14th year of empowering South African women, who go on to become advocates for waste management, recycling, climate change, food security, water stewardship and energy efficiency.
“This year will see them championing the #WasteStopsWithMe campaign with the City of Joburg, Pikitup and Tsogo Sun,” explained Ella Bella Constantinides-Leite, the director of the Miss Earth SA Programme.
“The organisation is proud to partner with Pikitup on school and community activations, educational programmes and projects supporting the strategic goals of Pikitup and the City of Joburg within the waste management sector,” she explained.
Constantinides-Leite and Catherine Constantinides are executive directors of the Miss Earth South Africa leadership programme.
“Our vision is to create a continental network of young climate leaders who are passionately changing the face of Africa,” Constantinides said.
“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 we can have an impact on the world around us.
The programme was endorsed by the Department of Environmental Affairs and the Department of Tourism.
The duo explained that initiatives are run alongside municipalities and corporates that seek to impact the communities around them, while growing these young women, who carry the green message forward.
Workshops include a greenminded approach to sharing the journey of being a Miss Earth ambassador, a key focus on waste management, recycling, climate change and food security.
A project day is scheduled for each region, so that the participants are able to engage with the community and make an impact.
“Each young woman goes away having grown, having learnt and seeing that they can be the difference,” Constantinides-Leite said.
“We are looking for a group of Miss Earth ambassadors to be part of the six-month programme, at the end of which we will choose the Miss Earth SA 2017 winner to represent South Africa at the international Miss Earth in November and December this year,” she added.
Entries close on March 24. and applicants can enter online on the official website www.missearthsa.co.za
National workshops and castings will take place weekly across the country at Tsogo Sun venues during April and May.
Applicants who have entered will be notified accordingly once applications have been received.