The Miss Earth South Africa in association with Consol is celebrating ten years of work dedicated to a greener South Africa and a more sustainable and carbon conscious way of life. Having greened many under greened spaces including rural, township and urban areas across the country, their environmental work extends to food gardens, food security projects and most importantly their massive educational drive.

Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa has fully endorsed this initiative, saying, "Miss Earth South Africa has for the past ten years, been a spark of youth activism, volunteerism and stewardship in environmental awareness. Throughout the decade you have brought together young South Africans of diverse social and cultural backgrounds to contribute their fair share to saving planet earth. Your contribution through dialogue, action and youth friendly activities have added a voice to the cries for sustainability, environmental and conservation protection. Through your international work, you continue to make our country proud. I wish you success in the future and thank you for partnering with government and business, to make a better world."

Over the past decade they have also reached half a million children and their work has extended to many social community upliftment projects, campaigns and initiatives that work hand in hand. National director, Catherine Constantinides, says, “It has been of great importance to combine both social issues with environmental concerns as we cannot teach a cold family to plant and respect trees if we are not talking care of their immediate social needs. The same is true of teaching children and educating them on sustainability and climate change when they arrive at school on an empty stomach.”

2012 has seen this establishment achieve many things, their greatest and most exciting achievement has been to reach 20 000 trees planted in South Africa. This year a group of finalists spent a week in Zambia thanks to Organic Reliance Compost. Finalists along with volunteers from across the world joined the ‘Trees for Zambia’ Greenpop initiative. The rampant deforestation is far from the only environmental problem facing this beautiful African country.

Less than 40 years ago, over 100 000 elephants roamed the Zambian wilderness. Today, the lucrative ivory trade has seen this number decline to 25 000. With harsh punishment for poachers becoming the norm, the figures have begun to decline, but the problem is still rife. Working with the role models and like-minded environmental comrades left the Miss Earth South Africa organisation and Reliance Compost team inspired and motivated, ready to continue the green legacy that started over ten years ago.

National finalists will spend a week at the Tsogo Sun Montecasino precinct for the week ahead of the gala awards dinner which will take place on Saturday 25, August. South Africa’s most glamorous and green people will be in attendance. The emcee will be TV star Jason Greer who is a long-time friend of the organisation and has helped with many projects and campaigns. Guests will be entertained by South African musicians Lilly Million, Cito, Pixie Bennett and DENIM. Tsogo Sun, has been announced as the official home of the Miss Earth South Africa.

The 2012 national finalists are a group of diverse women, from students, to Environmental Science graduates, an electrical engineer, medical doctor, professional dancers, educators and a chartered accountant. They have participated in alien vegetation clean up’s with Rand Water’s chemical removal team, water testing’s with local high schools, educational programmes in schools across the country, community driven projects, the annual stationery drive and that is just for starters.

The week ahead is a busy one with a day of official judging taking place along with a pamper day at Camelot International, a greening project with Consol, Imperial Toyota and Tsogo Sun in Diepsloot and the finalists showcasing their green journey.

The winner will receive a Prius Hybrid from Imperial Toyota who is the Miss Earth green on the road, with prizes from sponsors that will see her becoming a true environmental ambassador. Partners on board that will include the winners in their green actions and workshops, range from SAPPI, 49m, Eskom, TOTAL South Africa, AVIS and Newsclip Media Monitoring. The winners receive prizes from David Green Eyewear, Werner Dey, Craig Jacobs and Gerrit Pienaar, with gifts from Healing Earth, Hemporium and Crystal Forum. This will ensure that the Miss Earth SA will look and feel good wherever she goes. Earth Pro-Biotics and JoJo tanks will equip the winner’s homes so that immediate living changes are made at home too including an energy monitor for her home, eco-kettle, and LED gadgets from Eurolux to make her as energy efficient as possible. Bijan Hair Boutique, Garnier, GHD and Gepardissima jewellery take care of the glamorous side of the ladies so that their Green and Glam appearance is always in tip top shape.

Endorsements range from the minister of Environmental Affairs, to several green agency’s such as SANParks, SANEDI, WWF, SANCCOB, Cape Nature and is supported by the Department of Basic Education, as well as City of Cape Town to name a few.

To vote, visit the Miss Earth South Africa Facebook page or follow the activity this week on the Twitter handle, @missearth_sa.