“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” – Seneca
Today is New Year’s Day and with that comes new hopes, new opportunities and new goals. Check out my life’s purpose and 2022 Goals below:
My Life’s Purposes
Fill the world with kindness and love
Make a difference – level the playing field for people who were born with the cards stacked against them
Change perceptions about differently-abled people
2022 Goals
Continue to be kind, honest, generous, grateful, loyal and filled with wonderment
Every day be the best SuperSidekick to Superhero Catherine Constantinides (she’s the best, most hardworking real-life Superhero I’ve ever met she totally deserves me forever and no matter what else I’m doing in life I will always be here for her)
Raise at least R31 000 for Breath of Life (Breath of Life is a place of safety for vulnerable babies here in my city I JUST LOVE THEIR WORK)
Eat healthilyand Exercise – reduce sugar by a lot and exercise back muscles
Sleep better
Spend more time outside
Practice Patience
Make a steady income
Teach kids and adults worldwide that Different Is COOL
Continue to raise awareness about the Western Sahara conflict – the Western Sahara has been illegally occupied by Morocco since 1975 due to the fact that it’s rich in natural and though the UN promised a referendum in 1991 it has yet to come to pass meanwhile half of the Saharawi People have been living in the refugee camps in Algeria since 1975
Choose people who choose me
Read 12+ books
Plant 1-5 trees
Do 31+ good deeds
(Note: Goals are subject to change with time and that’s ok because I will change with time)
“Make measurable progress in reasonable time.” – Jim Rohn
As we near the end of 2021 it is again time to review the goals I set at the beginning of the year
My 2020 Life Purposes and Goals in Review
My Life’s Purposes
Fill the world with kindness and love [did my best]
Make a difference – level the playing field for people who were born with the cards stacked against them [did my best]
Change perceptions about differently-abled people [did my best]
2021 Goals
Continue to be kind, honest, generous, grateful, loyal and filled with wonderment [did my best – give myself an A]
Every day be the best SuperSidekick to Superhero Catherine Constantinides (she’s the best, most hardworking real-life Superhero I’ve ever met she totally deserves me forever and no matter what else I’m doing in life I will always be here for her) [did my best – give myself an A++]
Raise R300 000 for the Miss Earth South Africa leadership programme in honour of my 30th year of life – The work they do truly has an impact on people and planet I TRULY LOVE IT [not achieved because other things came up]
Continue to do more for Breath of Life [raised R16 680+ it’s not as much as I would have liked but better than nothing]
Eat healthily [failed]
Practice Patience [failed]
Sleep better [failed]
Spend more time outside on sunny days [did on some days]
Make a steady income [failed]
Teach kids and adults worldwide that Different Is COOL [tried]
Continue to raise awareness about the Western Sahara conflict – the Western Sahara has been illegally occupied by Morocco since 1975 due to the fact that it’s rich in natural and though the UN promised a referendum in 1991 it has yet to come to pass meanwhile half of the Saharawi People have been living in the refugee camps in Algeria since 1975 [did my best]
Choose people who choose me [I don’t know how to measure this]
Read 12+ books [failed – not even one book read so disappointed in myself ]
Plant or have 30 trees planted – 1 for every year of my life [failed]
Do 30+ good deeds – for every year of my life [I did not keep count but I’m sure I did at least 30 good deeds]
Miss Earth South Africa 2021 Nompumelelo Maduna (Photo credit: BlowfishProductions)
Our New Green Queen
As spring begins to blossom and the sun begins to shine, the Miss Earth South Africa prepares for the green journey to the international event in December. The organization has always advocated for the development of young women in South Africa as Environmental Warriors who promote the use of our Earth’s resources in a responsible manner. We all need to do our bit in the pursuit of preserving and conserving every day.
This announcement of a new ambassador to take the reins and lead this green revolution is none other than Soweto born Miss Nompumelelo Maduna. A marketing graduate who is currently doing her honours at the University of Johannesburg and is inspired and excited for the year ahead.
This young woman will represent South Africa at the international Miss Earth on the 12th December, in the Philippines. This is an opportunity for the Miss Earth South Africa, to showcase the climate issues and challenges from an African perspective and discuss the impacts they are having on our continent. Being Heritage month, it is important for us to highlight the positive and natural beauty of South Africa. We need to be aware of the problems but also celebrate the triumphs and the opportunity to celebrate our natural heritage
Joining these celebrations is Thaba Eco Hotel who is the venue and getaway partner for Nompumelelo and the organization, hosting the announcement in their picturesque and very appropriate nature setting. This is a sponsor that understands the drive and determination to work towards conserving Mother Earth. This is a perfect partnership where Thaba Eco and Miss Earth are not just walking the green walk but talking the green talk. Thaba Eco Hotel boast their own solar farm, recycling system from the restaurant, hotel rooms and magnificent Thaba Eco Trails, a responsible waste collection facility and function on an environmental ethos level that stands them above the rest. It is thus fitting for the Miss Earth South Africa to be announced at Thaba Eco Hotel.
Nompumelelo Maduna at the Thaba Eco Hotel’s Thaba Eco Park (Photo credit: BlowfishProductions)
Ella Bella Leite, Director of the programme said; “Our new Miss Earth demonstrate clear leadership qualities, creative thinking, strength of the mind and a bubbly personality and we are thrilled to be announcing our new ambassador. Over a period of two decades, we can confidently say that we have added value, purpose and a knowledge base to a large group of our South African women that has helped move our environmental agenda forward. We are proud of this footprint”
With lockdowns and the corona virus, social distancing and a withdrawal from communal society; we are faced with a different world, severe poverty and hunger in many communities; with environmental issues having fallen to the bottom of the pile once again. It is a critical time for climate change and we believe that our young ambassadors have to be at the forefront of this fight both from a community perspective and from an environmental perspective.
In the words of @ChangeAgentSA Catherine Constantinides, an international climate activist and human rights defender “Heroes don’t live in story books they live amongst us and we as the Miss Earth Leadership Programme have to ensure we empower and inspire these young women to be active citizens and be those heroes we need in our everchanging society. Their time is now!”
[END] For interviews contact Georgina on 082 505 0664 or email safusion@mweb.co.za Follow Miss Earth South Africa on Twitter and Instagram (@missearth_sa)
“You will love the ocean. It makes you feel small, but not in a bad way. Small because you realize you’re part of something bigger.” -Lauren Myracle
Today being World Oceans Day it’s the perfect day to watch Seaspiracy – a documentary by Ali Tabrizi about the dirty business of fishing. i watched it a few days ago and I was heartbroken that humanity has hurt marine life so and that every time I ordered Fish & Chips I was a part of the problem. I don’t think I will ever ever visit a marine park or eat fish again. Will I miss it? Will I slip on occasion? Of course I will miss it and I will probably slip on occasion I’m only human but the taste of fish is never worth my humanity so I’m going to try really hard to eat no fish.
I live by one rule in life: First do no harm and knowing what i know now if I continue to eat fish I would do so in violation of my own life rule.
If you wouldn’t trash a hotel room that you are staying in temporarily I ask that you extend the same courtesy to the Earth because for all intensive purposes the Earth is the hotel room we are staying in temporarily.
Today being Earth Day it’s a perfect time to pause and reflect on our impact on the planet the Earth is such a beautiful place it’s our job to keep it that way for generations yet to come.
– Plant a tree (or many trees)
– Don’t litter
– Eat less red meat
Do one thing to change the fate of Earth
There’s no PLANET B please act accordingly
Happy #EarthDay everyone . May we all choose to tread lightly on the Earth knowing it's the only home we have in this life.
– Plant a tree (or many trees) – Don't litter – Eat less red meat
Do one thing to change the fate of Earth There's no PLANET B please act accordingly pic.twitter.com/xCqgUxp2B6
“Speak only if it improves upon the silence.” ― Mahatma Gandhi
I know and I haven’t been blogging a lot lately and it’s only because I don’t have anything interesting to share right now but a lot has been going on in my personal life which I won’t share out of respect for the privacy of my loved ones (I don’t live in a vacuum and what I share on this blog and other platforms does affect those I love and their futures so now I’m more reserved about what I choose to share and I will not apologize for that because it’s for the sake of my family).
I hope everyone who has been reading my blog will continue to do so even though the content will be less personal than it originally was. Thank you all eternally for your continued love and amazing support.
With the 2020 Local Hero Awards now behind us, the search for this year’s extraordinary do-gooders is on. Entries for the Daily Dispatch and Johnson & Johnson Local Heroes campaign have officially opened, and the Dispatch is looking forward to the many inspirational stories that 2021 will bring. Daily Dispatch initiated a campaign in 2015 where a panel of judges selects 12 Local Hero finalists from a pool of nominees sent in by readers throughout the year. The finalists are honoured at a gala dinner.
In 2020 a new category, the Front-line Hero Award, was introduced to honour frontline workers’ incredible efforts during the pandemic. This year and in the future, the Dispatch and Johnson & Johnson will continue to search for 12 local heroes and one front-line hero.
The nominees must run their projects in the Eastern Cape, and preferably, their outreach should be as local as possible.
All necessary details of the nominee, including name, cell number, and e-mail address, must be provided in the nomination. Readers can renominate unsuccessful Local Hero nominees from past years for the 2021 awards.
To nominate your local hero, e-mail a 500-word motivation about the nominee to localheroes@dispatch.co.za. Nominations close on July 31.
On the occasion of my 30th birthday I look back with pride and look forward with anticipation while living in the present in gratitude. Thank you to my family who loves me and thank you to My Superhero Catherine Constantinides who guides me teaching me life and the way to live – thank you my people I love you
“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.”- Edward Everett Hale
On February 25th 2021 I started actively fundraising again for Breath of Life – a place of safety here in East London, South Africa, that homes abandoned and vulnerable babies – but this time I’m aiming to raise R30 000 in honour of my upcoming 30th birthday and 30th year of life. If you wish to donate you can do so at https://www.backabuddy.co.za/nisha-30 (R2024 raised so far – thank you to all who’ve donated so far – only R27 976 more to raise)
Me and mom with Alan Stapleton and Laura Dorothy (both representing SPAR)
Work for a cause not applause – that’s my message to the world
I’m deeply honoured to share that I am one of the Daily Dispatch and Johnson & Johnson Local Heroes 2020. Thank you to all who have been part of my journey so far – thank you in particular to God, my parents, my siblings, my extended family, my friends and all those who’ve supported my work for the past ten years without whom none of this would have been possible I thank you all very much. Thank you also to SPAR for this award your support is appreciated. I dedicate this award to My Superhero Catherine Constantinides who teaches me that leadership is learning and leading from where you are every single day in small and big ways – it is a lesson I carry with me always.
