Sandton honours AfriCAN EARTHizens on World Earth Day
Ten conscious earthpreneurs were honoured with awards in Sandton on World Earth Day.
It’s undeniable that raising awareness of the need for conservation and preservation of our planet’s ecological systems is urgent.
World Earth Day was celebrated on April 22 this year and in Sandton, AfriCAN Child Your Time is Now hosted the third AfriCAN EARTHizens honouree awards 2024.
Several eco-conscious businesses from across Africa were honoured at the event, themed: Let’s restore Mother Earth.
Among those honoured were Claudine Nowa – who makes art from pieces of fabrics on art canvasses that creatively depicts living in squatter camps known as Mukukhu’s (shacks). Nowa uses offcuts from fabrics to produce the unique colourful pieces.
“Warm people live in Mukukhu’s and this is a tapestry across South Africa,” Nowa said of her colourful creations.
AfriCAN Child Your Time is Now founder Anthea Thyssen-Ambursley reflected on how Nowa’s art reflected people from different spheres of life being brought together under difficult circumstances.
“I am fascinated and quite intrigued that amidst these hardships and disadvantages of these marginalised citizens, Nowa proclaims that they are truly a ‘happy’ people,” Thyssen-Ambursley said.
The intimate group of 45 guests were representatives from eight industries being honoured that day. Delegates from the water, agriculture, e-waste, environmental education, waste, creative arts, plastic and wood industries became honoured as AfriCAN EARTHizens for their conservation efforts.
“This initiative was started in 2022, and the importance was recognised in Covid-19 during the lockdown,” said Thyssen-Ambursley. “The AfriCAN EARTHizens is a platform for responsible earth people that are protecting and preserving our planet: businesses and individuals that are doing their part to leave a planet for the next generation through conscious living.”
At the event, global corporate citizen organisation 3M’s regional division leader, Cosmas Muyanda, delivered the keynote address. Muyanda reiterated that various synergies had been noted towards partnering with AfriCAN Child Your Time is Now.
“Anthea will be able to achieve her organisation’s goal where she can achieve greater impact on the African continent,” Muyunda said. “The time to accelerate, act with purpose, and tackle the climate crisis head-on is here.”
The 10 AfriCAN EARTHizens’ Honourees 2024 are:
- Horticulture Conservation – Brunhilda Mautla from Saena Botany (Pty) Ltd
- Water Conservation – Debbie Cockrell from Slovo Centre of Excellence (SCE) & Comm-Unity Green Projects
- E-Waste Conservation – Maria Rakgalakane from iLanga Waste Management
- Environmental Education – Caspa Fulufhelo Mutheiwana from Lantern Learning
- Wood Conservation – Mthobekisi Jonathan Moyo from M’squared Creations
- Waste Conservation – Nompumelelo Quincy Thile – Vaal Recycling Center
- Plastic Waste Conservation – Simbarashe Dube Zambia from Kwayedza Youth Community Group
- Fabrics Conservation – Claudine Nowa from Zimbabwe from VareaArts
- Indigenous Foods & Herbs Conservation – Nonhlanhla Moroenyane from Noni’s Home Dish
- Organic Food Conservation – Empress Zamakhuba Radebe from African Indigenous Snacks
Related article: Businesswomen build one another in Sandton
