Pageant embarks on East Rand clean-up campaign

As part of giving back to the community and celebrating Human Rights Month, the Mr and Miss East Rand contestants cleaned up the streets of Boksburg on March 20.

The group started at the Boksburg Taxi Rank and moved to Boksburg Lake, Boksburg Home Affairs and all surrounding areas.

Founder of the pageant Nonhlanhla Dalasile said they believe every human being has a right to a clean and safe environment.

“My goal for initiating this campaign was to teach contestants about social responsibility. Being a role model is not only about appearance and how well you can present yourself, it is about caring for your community, being an ambassador for change and a good example,” said Dalasile.

She said the campaign was a success as residents also made an effort to assist.

“People from the Boksburg Taxi Rank lent us cleaning material and a few young people I invited also assisted,” she said.

Tim Munguambe (18) from Mfundo Park, Vosloorus, shared that the most valuable things he learnt from the campaign were leadership skills, communication and how much littering affects the environment.

“The campaign was a great way to boost the contestants’ view of charity work, not only for the publicity or compensation but also for empowering people in the East Rand and hopefully South Africa at large to keep their environment clean,” said Munguambe.

Andile Khumalo (18) from Ramokonopi West, Katlehong, shared the same sentiments.

Dalasile said it was a learning curve for them as they were taught about the importance of social responsibility and taking care of our environment.

“Picking up litter taught me the importance of keeping my environment clean. A dirty environment can make people sick and suffer from certain health conditions, especially those with pre-existing conditions,” said Khumalo.

The Mr and Miss East Rand pageant goal

Dalasile said her goal is to change the lives of at least a 100 young people every year.

She said she aims to build confidence in the youth through modelling and give them a platform to bring substantial change and become the change and charity ambassadors in their communities and beyond.

She described the pageant as a platform that will give hope to the hopeless and direction to those who find themselves stumbling in the wrong direction.

“I see this organisation growing rapidly in a manner that it will bring hope and change to the youth of the East Rand.

“It is a platform that unites the youth of the East Rand and allows them to voice their opinions,” said Dalasile.