The news that fifty excited matrics have been waiting for with bated breath: Pioneering explorer, Riaan Manser, will be announcing the top ten finalists this coming Friday, 10 December before departing to Antarctica on the reconnaissance trip for Matrics in Antarctica 2022.
From thousands of entries across South Africa, we are down to a formidable top fifty candidates who all submitted remarkable campaign proposals that they can initiate in their own communities with family, friends and neighbours to choose more sustainable packaging like glass. From Sandton to Soshanguve we wanted to see how differently people look at their environment. These campaigns were based on what they see in their communities and in their everyday life, from what is bought to what is thrown away and how they can change this.
“The Bio-Strath team has been blown away by the caliber of entries for this years’ Matrics in Antarctica competition. It is truly wonderful to know that the youth of today understand the need for sustainable packaging and their responsibility to not only talk about change but be part of the movement for a better future,” said Shaye Lupton, Marketing manager of Bio-Strath.
After carefully reviewing each of the top fifty candidates’ initial essay along with their campaign proposals the selection panel was tasked with selecting the final ten who would make their way to the legendary Cape Nature – Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve in the Western Cape in January 2022.
“We selected candidates, that thought out of the box and into the glass jar, glass is completely natural. It takes nothing away from the environment and leaves nothing harmful behind and the students highlighted the importance of choosing sustainable packaging, like glass,” says Consol Marketing and Commercial Senior Executive, Dale Carolin. “Unless we change the way we consume, by 2050, there will be more plastic in our oceans than fish. But by making better choices today, we can create a better tomorrow,” Carolin added.
At Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve the top 10 will spend time with the selection panel and educators. They will participate in varied activities from lectures, excursions and a camera training day hosted by Canon SA to ensure they capture their Artic experience with the best images and footage. They will also have the chance to discuss their campaign ideas with the educators and explore various options of how to execute them effectively. By the end of the week the wait will finally be over, and the 5 winners will be announced by Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga.
“It astounds me every time I return to any of the Cape Nature Reserves. With its 250 hectares of indigenous forest, Grootvadersbosch Nature reserve has a magical, fairy tale quality, which will leave the top 10 with the lasting impression that they have stepped into another world. It is a huge privilege to experience and best of all it is right on our South Africans’ doorstep,” says Manser
In February 2022, the five winners will fly out of Cape Town International Airport on an ALCI alusion cargo plane and land six and a half hours later on an Antarctic runway that is essentially a block of ice. Hosted at Novolazarevskaya, the Russian scientific base, the students’ home for the next 6 days.
The students will spend their time learning about the Antarctic, exploring its beauty, hiking, taking part in science experiments, participating in a litter cleaning initiative and most importantly, learning about themselves.
To find out more, visit https://www.matricsinantarctica.co.za/ or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
