On Friday, 14 January 2022 at 15h15, the nerve-wracking was finally over for five matrics who will be joining Riaan Manser in Antarctica this coming February.

Congratulations to:

• Tswaledi Mosa Hlakudi – Brainline – Gauteng
• Anika Le Roux – Paarl Girls High School – Western Cape
• Mattheus Hendrikus (Kol) Wessels – Grey College – Freestate
• Kgosatsana Mabalane – St Michaels School for Girls – Freestate
• Keaton Stansfeld – Jeppe High School for Boys – Gauteng

“Choosing five winners from these outstanding individuals was difficult as each bring so much passion and character to the table,” says Shaye Lupton, Marketing manager of Bio-Strath. “This process and eventual experience in Antarctica will forever be imbedded in the winners’ memory and ultimately be a springboard for them to go out and influence all they come into contact with,” Lupton added.

On 10 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 5 days.

The students will spend their time learning about the Antarctic as a whole, the International Antarctic Treaty, exploring its beauty, hiking, taking part in science experiments, participating in a litter cleaning initiative and most importantly, learning about themselves.

On their return, we will follow their progress with campaign implementation in their communities and stand true to the motto of Matrics in Antarctica: Less talking and observation and more action and results. We do not need more activists; we need change makers.

“Being a platinum sponsor for the first time, I am blown away by the enthusiasm and ideas of the entrants. We look forward to working closely with the top five candidates, who will implement changes into their communities whilst creating awareness around why packaging is an important consideration when out shopping.  Glass is 100% recyclable, healthy for the planet and healthy for you” says Marlene Scott, Brand Manager at Consol Glass.

Matrics in Antarctica is a program founded by Manser with the primary objective of using Antarctica as a backdrop and the most exotic of environmental conversation starters. Manser’s belief that we need to move from “talking” to “doing” is something most on the planet would agree is necessary, but alas nobody practices.

“We are only handing out more mops while more taps are being opened and the house continues to flood,” says Manser. How can this be a mindset we have continued to have for over four decades,” Manser added. Matrics in Antarctica is looking for that next global game changer. The one that stands up and deliver change.