Hundreds of primary and high school learners from Atlantis gathered last week to present their art on how they imagine renewable energy could positively impact Atlantis.
“The fourth annual Atlantis Renewable Energy Challenge has attracted a record number of entries with over 350 learners participating in the competition,” said Elmarie September, Administrative Officer of The Atlantis Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
Organised by GreenCape, as part of its support to SEZ for Green Technologies, the challenge encourages learners to explore renewable energy and promotes interest in the science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics subjects.
This year, learners were asked to submit mural ideas in the form of canvases that show how renewable energy can uplift their community.
“We were positively blown away and delighted by the submissions,” said Olivia Venter, a volunteer judge from the City of Cape Town’s Sustainable Energy Markets Department. “The creativity and enthusiasm shown by the learners were truly inspirational.
“The colourful canvases showed the transformative power of renewable energy and the learners’ deep love for their community and the planet,” according to September.
GreenCape says it hopes the challenge will encourage learners to explore the subjects and ultimately find sustainable careers in the green economy. In doing so, they can play an active role in helping to transform the community and the planet.
The competition was preceded with an awareness campaign at all Atlantis schools, and in addition to information on how to enter the challenge the GreenCape team also spoke to learners about careers in the green economy as well as potential career opportunities in the Atlantis SEZ.
“Seeing so many girls interested in renewable energy is incredibly encouraging, especially given that we celebrate Women’s Month in August,” said Lindiwe van Staden, GreenCape’s challenge manager for 2019. “Our country needs more female scientists and professionals at all levels. In a few years, I really hope to see young female engineers and scientists take up jobs in the Atlantis, and help build Atlantis.”
The winners of challenge will be announced at the annual Atlantis Career Expo on Friday 13 September. For more information contact Elmarie September on 021 577 2719.
