Ex-winner in plea to carry on river war
BEING named The Herald GM Citizen of the Year in 2009 encouraged Nelson Mandela Bay environmentalist Jenny Rump to do more to help the environment and her community.
Rump, a member of the Zwartkops Conservancy, was honoured for teaching pupils about the importance of keeping the environment clean. She also teaches women how to transform rubbish and other discarded items.
“Winning that year really encouraged me to work harder. I thought to myself that I really need to step up my game now and I have since then. I carried on with my teaching and I tried to go even further in my work,” she said.
Rump says she is still fighting to highlight the environmental value of the Swartkops area.
“I think people realised [when I won] that we are not just a fly-by-night Mickey Mouse organisation. We really are an organisation that cares and people finally realised the importance of our work,” she said.
“It was also wonderful for me because the year before Andrew Muir, another environmentalist, won.”
Rump said she believed The Herald GM Citizen of the Year was important because it recognised ordinary people.
“There are so many ordinary people out there who are going the extra mile for others. In this country that is really what we need. Our government cannot do it alone so we need people who are willing to help others.”
Rump hoped this year’s judging panel would recognise people working to educate others to become more independent.
“It should not be about handouts. It should really be about upliftment and education and making others more independent,” she said.
“I am also very happy to hear about this year’s category to recognise our youth. The younger you start, the more engrained it becomes to help others so that category is really wonderful.”
People living in the circulation area of The Herald – which extends as far as Mossel Bay, George, Graaff-Reinet and East London – can nominate a person or enter themselves.
The youth category is open to individuals between the ages of 15 and 23. Like those in the open category for individuals 24 years and older, entrants must contribute positively to the upliftment of their communities.
The nomination form can be found in the paper or on The Herald website at www. heraldlive.co.za. For today’s form, go to Page 3. Nomination boxes are at GMSA, Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, Mandela Bay Development Agency, Kingfisher FM, NMMU Library north and south campuses, Walmer Park Shopping Centre info desk, and Postnets at Greenacres, Metlife Mall, Sunridge Village and Humerail.
Entries close on July 23.