Miss Earth 2014: Miss South Africa Ilze Saunders

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Miss Earth 2014: Miss South Africa Ilze Saunders

What is your environmental advocacy and why did you choose this?

I made my passion a reality and in the process I discovered who I am.

To give inspires me! Touching one person at a time and creating hope…

It all started with a dream and a big heart. My passion for people and the environment started many years ago. I got involved with several organisations. I was part of the Student Rag Community services, helping disabled people. I was also privileged to be elected to the House Committee of Karlien Residence. Portfolio Student RAG Community Service (SRCS) with a kindergarten in the Promosa township of Potchefstroom. This Project has 80, 2-5 year old children from a disadvantaged background. I was a member of the WOW (Women of Worth) Charity committee and was the Founder of Charity project – “Lappieskombers” project.

With this project, the main focus was on unemployed single mothers of Sonderwater, in the North West Province. We taught these mothers to make “lappieskomberse,” selling it as a personal income; developing skills, in order to create independence and sustainable income.

I was elected to the Student Representative Council (SRC) of the North West University Potchefstroom campus as Chairperson of the SRC: Liason. I chaired many projects but being the founder of the “Toeka-Makiti” project raised the bar. With the assistance and support of my committee, this project was created for all the North West University Potchefstroom campus students. This project focused on building the NWU PUK identity, pride and unity. What I mostly appreciate about my university is that we form part of the green initiative.

I believe in serving the people of South Africa, I am Proudly South African.

My mission and goals:

South Africa faces so many challenges. To deal with these challenges, the future of this nation, the youth, needs to be educate, trained and develop the most important characteristic, CONFIDENCE (sic). Confidence to communicate, administrate and educate everyone close to them.

It is my dream and passion to provide the opportunity for young South Africans to enrich themselves with leadership skills and other empowerment skills. To be able to share and gain knowledge would also enrich me as a person, and further my personal development and growth.

I have learned through experience that no challenge is impossible if you have confidence and knowledge. A positive attitude and the will to succeed needs to be implemented amongst the youth and that will be my main objective.

I want to serve my beloved planet. We are capable of effortless change when we unite and tackle environmental and community issues together.

Being a down to earth young woman, I have never been scared of digging into the soil and getting my hands dirty, promoting and inspiring change, and creating hope.

I want to touch people with my positive attitude, love, and ability to create opportunities.

With my experience in many charity works and leadership roles, I could see the differences I made by developing people’s living conditions and attitudes. By simply conveying my confidence and love for people, I changed lives.  What a privilege and humbling experience...

The environment is dear to my heart. My own lifestyle is a reflection of the green initiative as I try to save and preserve as far as I can.

“Inspire green, teach green, thriving green” – Ilzé Saunders

What tip can you share to promote this year's theme, Eco Tourism?

We need to adapt a green mind, heart, hands, and most importantly leave only green footprints.

Would you like Miss South Africa Ilze Saunders to be Miss Earth 2014? Support her by sharing her profile on Facebook and Twitter. Tag @YahooPH and use the hashtag #MissEarth2014.

Yahoo Philippines is the official online partner of Miss Earth 2014.

(Photo courtesy of Ilze Saunders)