Pageant participants from the AfterSkoolIsLit’s ignite a leader in you programme visited Stephenson Primary School on June 12.

They donated trees and ran an environmental conservation and sustainability awareness programme, bringing together learners, community partners, and two supporting foundations in a drive to build environmentally conscious young leaders across Gauteng.

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The visit formed part of the broader ignite a leader in you mentorship programme, which equips learners with skills across five key areas: personal development, career guidance, entrepreneurship, health awareness, and environmental sustainability. The programme aims to prepare young people for a successful future beyond the classroom by giving them both the knowledge and the confidence to lead. The initiative was backed by the Green Development Foundation and the Clear Path Foundation, whose support helped make the awareness programme possible and ensured that learners left the day with a deeper understanding of their role in protecting the environment.

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Sifisokuhle Mkhwanazi, of AfterSkoolIsLit, said the visit carried a message that went far beyond the act of planting. “Together, we are not only planting trees; we are growing future leaders. We invited environmental organisations, businesses, and community partners to join us in empowering Gauteng learners and building a generation of leaders who care for both people and the environment.”

The awareness programme gave learners practical knowledge about environmental responsibility and the importance of sustainable living, reinforcing lessons that are increasingly relevant as communities across the country grapple with the effects of climate change and environmental neglect. AfterSkoolIsLit has used the ignite a leader in you pageant as a platform not only to celebrate young talent, but to direct that energy towards community upliftment. The Stephenson Primary School visit is one example of how the organisation is channelling the enthusiasm of its pageant participants into meaningful action on the ground.

The organisation has called on environmental groups, businesses, and community partners to get involved and help extend the reach of the programme to more Gauteng learners in the months ahead.

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