Centurion students take action for a cleaner city
An educational institution’s students and staff strive to bring sustainability to their environment.
Students from the Newbridge Graduate Institute (NGI) in Centurion are set to participate in another community-based initiative this coming June, as part of the institution’s flagship outreach programme.
This follows a successful clean-up on May 9, where students and office team members took to the streets around Bank Avenue and nearby intersections in Centurion.
NGI spokesperson Timothy Verne said volunteers spent the day picking up litter, interacting with the public, and promoting environmental consciousness.
“The initiative forms part of our institution’s sustainability project, which focuses on addressing local needs through tailored and sustainable efforts that empower both students and the broader community.”
He described the project as a platform that builds sustainable habits and creates a visible impact.
Verne said the clean-up effort was more than just a response to litter.
“This was collective action with purpose,” he said.
“When our staff and students work together in the community, they are showing what it means to lead with integrity and compassion.”
He added that the project represents NGI’s broader educational philosophy.
“As a higher education institution, we believe in the integration of teaching, learning, research, and community engagement,” he said.
Project manager Bernadette Loretz, who co-ordinated the event, said the Centurion clean-up was both inspiring and humbling.
“This project is a reflection of what we stand for at NGI, which includes collaboration, community, and creating sustainable change,” she said.
She noted that participating in the project reminded everyone involved that a cleaner, happier environment is possible when people come together with a shared vision.
The event also drew enthusiastic participation from students like Pearl Mabunda, who said she felt a strong desire to be part of something meaningful.
“I volunteered for the NGI Centurion community clean-up because I believe small actions create big change. Making a difference starts with showing up,” she said.
Mabunda said taking part helped her feel more connected to her peers and her city and gave her a sense of pride in being able to give back.
Systems manager Rene Erasmus, who joined the students on the day, emphasised the importance of setting an example.
“As a staff member, I see every day how important it is to lead by example,” she said.
Erasmus explained that volunteering was her way of showing that NGI doesn’t only invest in education but also in the environments where students live and grow.
“We care, not just about education, but about the world our students live in.”
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