The Green Living Awards (GLA), a sustainability initiative founded by EcoMaties, is urging residences, PSO’s and student houses to incorporate sustainable living practices in order to help protect the environment.
The GLA initiative is aimed at encouraging fundamental lifestyle changes among students on campus, by making them aware of the necessity to be environmentally conscious. Each participating residence or PSO has an environmental issue that they must focus on and are awarded points based on their efforts.
The GLA’s very first awards ceremony hopes to spark a greater interest in ‘green’ living on campus. PHOTO: GLA committee.
The award ceremony will take place on Tuesday, September 18th and will award platinum, gold, silver, and bronze status to the participating student housing organisations. The winning residence or PSO will receive a R25 000 cash prize to contribute to a sustainability project of their choice.
“Environmental initiatives are extremely important on campuses because they inform students about pressing global environmental challenges, such as climate change,” says Dona van Eeden (21), the sustainability HK at Irene Ladies’ Residence.
“Students need to be aware of the impact they have as individuals on the environment,” she adds.
Kaliope Geldenhuys (23), a student at the Sustainability Institute in Stellenbosch, says she hopes this initiative will encourage critical debate around climate change and inequality in South Africa.
Kaliope Geldenhuys (23), member of EcoMaties and GreenMatter Fellow, an initiative funded by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). PHOTO: Judy Philander.
“Everything we eat, wear, drive, buy and do impacts the environment, yet it is something we never take into account,” Geldenhuys says.
“The impact of these initiatives is far reaching. Think of the thousands of students leaving university every year, who will be equipped in making more sustainable life choices which will help the environment,” she adds.
Michelle Karsten (20), vice-chairperson of EcoMaties, says students should be encouraged to make small changes in their own lives as these will have an immeasurable, positive impact on the environment.
“If every student, or even half of the students on campus got involved in GLA activities, I think we’d see an incredible change on campus,” she says.
“There is definitely an interest in making some positive changes on campus. Unfortunately, I do think that it is still the minority of students who are interested in making these changes,” she adds.
Climate change statistics according to NASA’s website, nasa.gov
According to Karsten, the GLA initiative along with other initiatives on campus such as EcoBricks, Earth Hour Night Market, and Refuse the Straw have ushered in a transitory period in which students are gradually becoming aware of environmental issues and are making the necessary changes to help save the environment.
“Although the GLA is very new and hasn’t seen much input from residences and PSO’S, yet, I believe once the first winner is announced and prizes are handed out, more HK members will hopefully encourage their residences to get involved,” she adds.