/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

To observe Internal World Rhino Day 2014, The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) in partnership with A ROCHA South Africa and Responsible Tourism Foundation made a stand against Rhino Poaching by hosting a speech competition for learners and a church leaders' seminar in the Bushbuckridge area in the Mpumalanga Province. 

The competition was hosted at the Timbavati Bush School on Friday, 19 September 2014. 21 schools from the Manyeleti, Cottondale, Greenvalley and Athurcity circuits of the Bushbuckridge region participated in the competition, with each school being represented by one Grade 10 or 11 learner.  

The main aim of the competition was to promote rhino conservation messages through young people in rural communities and schools and was also aimed at empowering and involving young people to partake in decisions made to combat rhino poaching.  

The competition explored social, political and economic impacts of rhino poaching. Learners presented possible solutions to the impacts and challenges of rhino poaching in their prepared speeches.  The top five learners then had to answer questions from the panel of adjudicators and it was his ability to think on his feet that secured first place for Success Ngobeni from Sokisi High School.  

Success's prizes included the opportunity to attend the International Youth Summit against rhino poaching in Hluhluwe-KZN from 21-23 September 2014. He has also been awarded a bursary to study the course: 'introduction to Conservation and Environmental Education' at the Southern African Wildlife College for 6 months in 2016. 

"The quality, delivery and amount of effort put into the presentations by all the learners was really impressive and of a very high standard. Whilst there could only be one winner, all the learners were winners in their own right." commented Kirsty Brebner, the EWT Rhino Project Manager.

A second event to commemorate International Rhino Day was a church leaders 'Faith Action against Rhino Poaching' seminar hosted at the Nazarene Revival Church in Welverdiend Ngangeni Village on Saturday, 20 September 2014.  The inter-denominational seminar hosted over 40 church leaders from different churches close to the Kruger National Park and was facilitated by Carls Swart from A ROCHA South Africa. The theme of the seminar centred around "Caring for Creation". 

Rest Kanju, the EWT's Community Expert and CEO of Responsible Tourism Foundation said, "the aim of the seminar was  to encourage and promote the involvement of churches in efforts to raise awareness and impart knowledge on the plight of the rhino and to mobilise the communities towards actions in conservation."  

"Conserving the remaining Rhinos remains a priority for us. Multi pronged solutions in addressing illegal wildlife trade and the rhino poaching crisis requires concerted efforts, collaborations and cooperation from all sectors of the community," concluded Brebner.

Issued by EWT