In celebration of Arbour Month and World Tourism Day, the Miss Earth South Africa Leadership programme; embarked on a tree planting initiative that captured the spirit of environmental stewardship and community engagement.

The initiative took place in the heart of Soweto, where a dedicated team of volunteers, local community members, and our sustainability partners; Samsonite, Afritree and Gebco; gathered at Lulama Primary School and Asha Dawn Pre-Primary School. The day was marked by the planting of 21 trees. The Karee Tree was chosen as it is the tree of the year. This tree provides food for birds and insects; thus enhancing the local biodiversity and in years to come it will support and restore the region’s ecological balance, while at the same time creating a natural soil stabilisation and increasing infiltration of the soil, thus reducing erosion and raising the levels of the water table. These indigenous trees create a greener environmental space.

Catherine Constantinides; the director of the Miss Earth South Africa; stated that; “Arbour Month is a time to reflect on the importance of trees and their role in our environment. We are thrilled to be part of this movement, making a tangible impact by planting trees that will contribute to our community for years to come.” She also added, “We are grateful to be working with Samsonite, Afritree and Gebco, in this community which is so close to our hearts.”

The day was filled with educational activities aimed at raising awareness pertaining to the benefits of tree planting and the vital role that trees play in combating climate change. Attendees participated in workshops and discussions led by environmental experts, who emphasised the need for collective action to preserve our planet in the words of Ella Bella Leite; co-director of the organisation; “Our objective is to serve people and to serve planet. We must focus on a greener way of life in everything that we do.”

This initiative not only contributed to the beautification of the local landscape but also reinforced the organisation’s dedication to fostering a culture of environmental responsibility and climate action. The success of the event underscored the power of grassroots efforts in driving positive change and inspired many to take actionable steps toward protecting our planet.

The Miss Earth South Africa is proud to have planted 56 267 trees across South Africa in the past two decades. Mr Lucas Khumalo, the principal of Lulama Primary stated that, “We love to work with the Miss Earth South Africa and are excited to be the recipient school for this year’s arbour planting. I believe that a productive environment, leads to a productive education. We are also proud to be starting an orchard of fruit trees together. Twelve fruit trees have been planted and this will add to our school’s food kitchen.”

Miss Earth South Africa will be announced at the Southern Sun, Sandton Convention Centre on Saturday, 5^th October. Please follow us on social media @missearth_sa.