GEORGE NEWS - The Southern Cape Policewoman of the Year, Constable Mona Slinger, has an ambitious long-term vision for building up the local community, and she believes the Designing for Greener Futures community project, her brainchild, will go far in accomplishing it.
Slinger received the woman of the year award at the recent Garden Route District Police Prestige Awards for her contribution to community building through this project.
The project kicked off in 2024 with a competition in clothing design using waste materials for local learners. It was small but successful, and all her collaborators were inspired to be part of a second, bigger competition that was held earlier this year.
She shared her excitement with the newspaper last week after the first planning meeting for next year's event was held on 13 November.
"I'm very happy to say that we will also have the education department on board for the third competition in 2026, which we hope will be a much bigger event.
"We will be reaching out to schools throughout the district to invite them to take part in their own local events in which the semi-finalists will be chosen to go through to the regional gala event where the winners will be chosen."
Slinger says the idea for the project came to her during patrols through the various neighbourhoods that are all subjected to widespread littering and illegal dumping.
Through hard work and lots of enthusiasm, she involved various project partners to make the competition a reality. She used various media outlets and social media for publicity.
The initiative so far has had the support of local recycling company Henque Waste, George Municipality's community development section, and the Inkcubeko Science Centre in Thembalethu.
"It's heartbreaking to see how young people's lives are being devastated by substance abuse. I believe it's possible to bring about meaningful change in the long run if all the role players work together to be an inspiration to them, get them off the streets, and create in them an awareness of their creative gifts. I want to say a very big thank you to all who are involved and are taking hands towards this vision," says Slinger.
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