Focusing on environmental projects formed an integral part of learning for Public Relation students from the Durban University of Technology (DUT), who were involved in the award-winning Makotikoti Arts Project at the Durban Sustainable Living Expo, last weekend.
The Makotikoti Arts Project (The MAP) scooped first prize for the best stand, education and training, at the Durban Sustainable Living Expo, the City’s premier greening event. MAP came about when in March 2011, Jabulani Makotikoti Zikhali, was sentenced to five years in prison for killing an endangered loggerhead turtle in the iSimangaliso wetland heritage site. For Makotikoti, who grew up as a fisherman along this coastline, being in jail became a turning point. Released on early parole in March 2012, he returned home, and after meeting with Roving Reporters director, Fred Kockott and internationally acclaimed artist, Andries Botha, he began making sculptures of turtles in aid of marine conservation and environmental education.
“We engaged more than 250 kids in drawing activities and painting turtle motifs at The MAP stand.We are also continuing with our Works on Paper programme which last year inspired more than 180 primary school children from 25 schools throughout KwaZulu-Natal to draw and paint pictures celebrating marine life,” said Nana Zuke, a final year DUT student who ran the Koti Koti Kids’ corner at this year’s show.
Speaking of the win, Roving Reporters director, Fred Kockott, said: “This would not have been possible without the assistance of a team of five DUT PR students and three Roving Reporters interns who all did great work engaging kids in art activities at The MAP stand and first class digital presentations, compiled by the design agency Whalleys and Andre Cronje of Baobab Pictures. Thanks must also go to The MAP’s sponsors, in particular the Human Elephant Foundation, Nedbank Arts and Culture Trust, the Tourism Enterprise Partnership and Wildlands which sponsored a batch of Blue Fund Makotitkoti turtle sculptures in aid of Roving Reporters environmental journalism training programme.”
The Blue Fund is a strategic partnership launched by Grindrod Financial Services and Wildlands to generate funding and focus on the sustainable development of coastal communities and conservation of coastal and marine ecosystems.
For more information contact Fred Kockott on 083 277 8907; fredk@rovingreporters.co.za or Mark Gerrard, Wildlands Conservation Trust at MarkG@wildlands.co.za
Pictured: left to right: Makotikoti Zikhali, Kwazi Dlamini, Nondumiso Msomi, Nana Zuke, Njabulo Ndlovu, Pam Ndlovu and Yvette Deschamps, working hard at the MAP stand at the 2015 Durban Sustainable Living Exhibition.
Story Supplied by Roving Reporters
