Lim-beauty motivates learners to recycle
The beautiful 34-year-old Mrs South Africa finalist, Ephy Mathebula, visited DG Tsebe High School in Mahwelereng last Thursday where she educated the learners on the benefits and importance of recycling as part of the Mpact Recycling campaign.
MOKOPANE – Mpact Recycling, a leading paper recycler in South Africa, has recently renewed its partnership with the glamorous Mrs South Africa Pageant for the second consecutive year.
Mpact Recycling Managing Director, John Hunt said: “Our partnership with Mrs South Africa delivered great results in 2015 as the 25 finalists contributed to educating learners on the benefits of recycling and assisted us in identifying and including new communities and schools in our schools’ recycling project.
“This year, our campaign will include a socio-economic development element where the Top 25 contestants will meet community leaders to identify needs in their areas which Mpact will meet, provided the areas’ recycling targets are met.
“The campaign objectives fit neatly with Mpact’s own drive to create awareness in schools and communities about recycling.”
As an organisation, Mrs South Africa has changed the perception of what married women can and should be doing for their communities. Beauty with a purpose and making a difference is a key part of the beauty pageant.
Joanie Johnson, Managing Director of Mrs South Africa adds, “As part of the competition, our finalists are encouraged to help with community upliftment and development initiatives throughout the country. Raising funds and charity work is an important part of the contestants’ journey. Through the partnership with Mpact Recycling, our finalists are encouraged to focus on helping their communities establish themselves in recycling, stimulating job creation in the recycling industry, and educating their communities, schools and the youth on the importance of looking after the environment. This also enables schools and communities to raise much needed funds.”
Mpact Recycling has helped set up over 40 buy-back centres, with more than 2 000 schools and communities recycling on a regular basis. In 2015, it had 294 schools participating in its schools recycling competition.
This reached 143 913 eager young learners, who made successful inroads in assisting Mpact Recycling reduce waste going into landfills through a growing culture of reducing, reusing and recycling.
The company overall exceeded the 500 000 tonne mark for recycled paper in 2015 and hopes to increase its tonnage in 2016.
Mathebula, a wife and proud mother of three, told Bosveld: “As one of the 25 finalists in the Mrs South Africa 2016 pageant, I can’t wait to take up the challenge to ‘green’ the minds of the Mokopane community and the youth ahead of Clean-up Week which runs from 12-17 September with Friday, 16 September, being Recycle Day.”
Mathebula entered Mrs SA after a friend encouraged her to do so. “I never would have dreamed I would be among the final top 25.”
She further said: “If I were to be crowned Mrs SA, I would use this platform to help and inspire others.”
Mathebula will represent Limpopo on 21 October at the crowning ceremony and Bosveld wishes her well.
redaksie.bosvelder@nmgroup.co.za
