6-year-old started collecting bottle tops and bread tags for the Sweetheart Foundation and now she does talks to encourage other children to save the planet.
South Africa (18 January 2019) – Ella is 6-years-old and was introduced to the Sweethearts Foundation, via a friend of her granny. Sadly her granny’s friend Maureen lost her battle with cancer and passed away last year.
Ella was completely inspired by the idea that she could help the environment and provide wheelchairs for sick people or underprivileged people at the same time.
According to her mom, Fiona Sproule, Ella has been growing in her environmental activism activities. She started at home by banning straws in the house as well as making sure every family member picked up at least 3 pieces of plastic during their beach visits.
“No plastic straws are allowed in our family, when we go to the beach, we have to pick up 3 pieces of plastic at least, and we always leave with a full bag of rubbish. And she’s wanted to be a “whole-body doctor” for the longest time. So helping the planet and people together was just up her street.”
The family got on board with her new rules but soon she started newer projects in the house in aid of charity and the environment. She became so inspired by her family’s participation that she knew she could do more. So, Ella decided to do a talk in front of her school to spread her message further.
“Under her instruction, we all started to collect bottle tops and bread tags for the Sweethearts Foundation. Late last year she came to me and asked if I would help her do a presentation to the girls in her school about this project. With her own initiative, she had approached the headmistress of the Junior School at St Mary’s School, Waverley and booked a speaking slot at assembly.”
She gave an impressive presentation for a six-year-old, standing in front of the lower primary school, sharing her passion for helping the environment and sick people. The girls were excited and motivated to collect their own and to make a difference too. She spoke towards the end of the year, and by the end of term, a huge IKEA bag was filled with bottle tops and bread tags.”
Fiona took Ella to drop the collection off at a nearby friend who weighed it and would send it off. Now the plan for 2019 is to get her whole school involved. Even Ella’s little brother is planning to get his school involved.
“I took them to Lee Jackson-Randall’s drop off point in Gresswold. Lee took us through the sorting process, showed the kids how she weighed the bags of tops using her fish scales and was really kind and generous with her time.
I think that probably 10-15kg’s of bottle tops were handed over. Not bad for a few weeks of collecting. This year we have agreed to supply collection boxes to St Mary’s, as even the Headmistress was blown away by the idea!
Her brother Alexander (5) now fully inspired too, informed me he was going to tell all his new friends at St John’s about it when he starts.”
Ella is a brilliant young girl with a very bright future ahead of her. Well done Ella!
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