The environment encompasses all living and non-living things, and we see how negative impacts harm the environment. Human beings need to understand the environment and the impact of human behaviour that causes climate change, resulting in soil erosion, poor air quality and undrinkable water.

With the aim of creating greater consciousness about the environment, the North-West University (NWU) hosted Green Week, which is also known as Environment Week.

The week generated awareness among staff and students about taking care of the environment and presented various opportunities for students to learn more about the environment and to be informed about all the solutions for environmental issues.

Gazebos were lined up in Lovers’ Lane on the Potchefstroom Campus, with the atmosphere buzzing with excitement as students were made aware of the different activities they can engage in to help make a difference and promote awareness.

They held a Mr and Ms Environment competition, where contestants touched on matters such as recycling, while also providing facts relating to environmental topics such as global warming and energy conservation.

“This year we saw fit to change the narrative of Mr and Ms Environment. Instead of the usual pageant, we focused more on the green initiative,” says Faith Mhlongo, Student Campus Council officer for transformation and diversity with current affairs.

“The residences and faculties chose their green initiative for the term, and this is the initiative they will focus on all year. Topics such as recycling, compost and gardening and issues of polystyrene in the dining halls were touched on.”

They presented their initiatives in the form of an exhibition in Lovers’ Lane. Faith said they were honoured to involve Mr Leslie Barends and Mr Mhleli Vezi, who are part of the NWU’s Safety, Health and Environment department.

“They gave their advice and opinions to the residences and faculties regarding their green initiatives,” adds Faith.

The second part was the actual Mr and Ms Environment pageant, and this involved the residences and faculties explaining their initiatives to their peers. The judges of the evening were the students, seeing that these initiatives will benefit them.

“Green Week is a week in which power is given to the students. We asked them to go out into their environment and investigate what environmental issues they are faced with. We asked students to come up with their solutions, which is what they did,” says Faith, adding that she was overcome with pride.

“The residences and faculties went above and beyond. As the youth of today, we realise that the future is in our hands, and we are actively taking steps to improve the environment in which we find ourselves. We are, after all, for the students – by the students.”

 

Listen to Mhleli Vezi, specialist in environmental sustainability in the Health, Safety and Environment department, talking about the NWU going green.

 

Some of the stalls which were displayed at this year’s Green Week.