While South Africa is in lockdown, five lucky matric students are awaiting an educational adventure of a lifetime with pioneering explorer Riaan Manser in Antarctica.
The national competition was born out of an idea which Manser had at the beginning of lockdown last year and was open to all 2020 matric students in South Africa.
To enter, matriculants had to answer a question about what they would do in their own hometown to make a difference to the global problem of saving nature and the environment.
Ayakha Melithafa from the Centre of Science and Technology in Cape Town, Cobus Burger from Hoerskool Duineveld in the Northern Province, Boiketlo Lamula from Sedaven High School in Gauteng, Kelby Barker from Diocesan School for Girls in Grahamstown and Thea J Earnest from Mountview Secondary School in KwaZulu-Natal are the lucky winners.
They will be accompanied on the week-long trip by Manser and a group of professors from Stellenbosch University, led by Professor Jonathan Jansen.
The five spent seven nights isolating in luxury at Cape Townâs best address, the Table Bay Hotel in the V&A Waterfront, prior to flying to the ALCI Airbase in Novolazarevskaya on January 26.
âOur sustainability policy is embedded into all of our business operations and we constantly assess our impact on our local communities, the environment and the safety of our guests and employeesâ said Jannette Horn, Sun International Head of Sustainability.
âIt is important that the learners, during their week at the Table Bay, come to understand that our carbon footprint is also determined by our daily choices, for instance the food we choose to eat, the water we drink, clothes we wear and electronics we buy.â
The group will therefore learn about the Hotelâs various sustainability initiatives, from food security and their partnership with WWF-SASSI to drive sustainable seafood sourcing, to how the drought led to permanent changes to the way the Hotel uses water, efficient energy uses and its zero to waste landfill journey.
Manser said the trip was focused on environmental education and enrichment, exploration and developing future leaders with a strong environmental ethos. âThe group will be challenged to craft solutions to environmental issues such as pollution, water scarcity, food security and finding sustainable energy sources while including people and planet health. They will get the opportunity to do hands on experiments analysing freshwater in Antarctica, biodiversity observations, a litter clean-up on the ice, as well as human physiology investigations with regards to the bodyâs response to the icy conditions.â
There will also be discussions and presentations lead by environmental educator Fadli Wagiet and marine scientist and CEO of the Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation Maryke Musson before departure while in quarantine in Cape Town, as well as in Antarctica.
They will explore the Queen Maud Land area, visit the ice tunnels and walls, tour the nearby Russian research station and view the incredible rock formations. âWith 24-hour sunlight, they will have plenty of time for fun activities such as ice tennis,â Manser said.
Manser, who himself has plenty of life experience gained during his adventures, said the group would return âwith a much broader understanding of their impact on this world and how they can inspire their communities to work together to reduce their carbon footprint and in doing so, create a better environment for allâ.
âHopefully they will also gain a network of supportive peers who share their passion in some way – friends and connections they can count on throughout their lives.â
