Being beautiful on the outside is something that comes naturally to South African and Miss Earth finalist, Jade Axon. But it’s the beauty she exudes from within that makes her so appealing to her own community.
Don’t let the flowing blonde locks fool you either, for she has the intelligence to back up her gorgeous looks. She has graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and is aiming for her next post graduate degree.
Jade has been very busy lately, spreading cheer and planting trees in and around Johannesburg schools.
“I was raised by a family of philanthropists, so we were always taught to give instead of receive,” said Axon during her visit to the college.
“I also love working with children, they are so engaging and inquisitive.”
She added that being involved with her community in such a positive way instilled a sense of empowerment, not just within herself, but also in those with whom she works.
Unity College principal, Bruce Lindsay, was very excited about Axon’s visit as he felt it tied in perfectly with their ideal of being an eco-friendly school.
“We’d like to thank our aspiring Miss Earth, Jade Axon, for visiting today and bringing these lovely trees for our new school grounds,” said Lindsay. “We focus on being an eco-school which is closely affiliated with the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa, and we have recently been accredited with bronze-status as an eco-school.”
Jade also inspired the Grade 11 pupils by helping them plant 30 olive trees in one hour in the competition’s Big O2 challenge.
She said the tree planting formed part of Miss Earth South Africa’s Big O2 challenge, which is an initiative to see which school in South Africa can go green the quickest. Axon felt the need to inspire the pupils of her previous school to plant trees and nurture their environment.
Axon said, “I hope the students take environmental awareness from this initiative which is the most important thing. People take for granted what is going on around them and I believe that you don’t only need to maintain a healthy lifestyle at home, but also the environment you are in.”
The Miss Earth South Africa programme is focused on developing young women through the vehicle of environmental education. It is a leadership programme that aims to empower young South African women with the knowledge and platform to create a sustainable difference in the plight to combat the destruction of South Africa’s natural heritage.
The programme helps to create an awareness of sustainable development, the country’s environment and wildlife, and the conservation of South Africa’s natural legacy, and ultimately the preservation of Mother Earth.
