{"id":92073,"date":"2015-06-19T08:15:00","date_gmt":"2015-06-19T06:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/92073\/nikita-teaches-children-new-skills\/"},"modified":"2015-06-19T09:14:40","modified_gmt":"2015-06-19T07:14:40","slug":"nikita-teaches-children-new-skills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2015\/06\/19\/nikita-teaches-children-new-skills\/","title":{"rendered":"Nikita teaches children new skills"},"content":{"rendered":"

Regional semi-finalist for the Miss Earth South Africa 2015 title<\/a>, Nikita Lagler (22) from Harmelia, recently visited the Ithembelihle Lsen School in Primrose, to plant a food garden.<\/p>\n

Nikita, who found out about the Miss Earth competition from a former contestant, hopes the programme will give her the opportunity to be part of something special.<\/p>

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\u201cI am hoping to be a part of something bigger than myself, and in doing so, educate myself as well as others on how to live a greener life,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n

The Miss Earth South Africa programme is focused on developing young women through the vehicle of environmental education.<\/p>

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Miss Earth South Africa 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\u2019s natural heritage.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are excited with the current group of Miss Earth South Africa regional semi-finalists,” said Catherine Constantinides, executive director of the Miss Earth South Africa programme.<\/p>\n

\u201cProjects to be completed include a food garden or waste project with a primary school, plant ten indigenous trees, as well as partake in the annual Miss Earth South Africa clean-ups.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe look forward to seeing the results as these young ladies embark on their green journeys within their communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nikita, who matriculated from Leeuwenhof Akademie and currently works for Modern Athlete, was first told about the Ithembelihle Lsen School by staff at Norman House School in Edenvale.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter making contact with the school, nine children in the skills class and I planted a food garden,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did this project in the hope that these children will use the skills they have learned to generate some sort of income when they leave the school one day.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked about her time with the children Nikita said, \u201cIt was emotional, overwhelming and the most enjoyable experience I have had in a long time.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese children are just so happy and content with life and so enthusiastic, it was amazing to see.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nikita plans to continue her work with the school and explained that she already has two more projects planned.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will still be doing a recycling project, as well as a tree planting project,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The Miss Earth South Africa finalists will be announced in July.<\/p>\n