Antarctica :
From icy continent to classroom
Once they landed at the Novolazarevskaya station near the Russian base on Antarctica , they travelled to SANAE IV , the South African Antarctic research base located in Vesleskarvet , Queen Maud Land .
At the end of January ,
Antarctica become the coldest matric classroom on the planet for five South African matrics .
PPS , in partnership with Riaan Manser , the world-renowned global explorer , sent Thea Earnest , Kelby Barker , Boiketlo Lamula , Cobus Burger and Ayakha Melithafa on an expedition of a lifetime .
Thea , Kelby , Boiketlo , Cobus and Ayakha are the winners of the Matrics in Antarctica competition .
Matriculants from all over the country could enter this competition by explaining in less than 100 words , what exploration in the arctic continent does to help preserve a greener , more sustainable existence .
The five winners were announced on Monday , 11 January and departed via chartered plane to Earth ’ s southern-most continent on 27 January . The adventure started with the matrics boarding a cargo plane with Manser and a distinguished team of professors from the University of Stellenbosch on a windy morning in Cape Town , following what must have felt like a never-ending quarantine period in Table Bay Hotel .
For Cobus , from Hoërskool Duineveld in the Northern Cape , this was his first ever trip on a plane .
“ I am ready for the challenge , but I think it is going to be hilarious to see myself trying to climatise ,” said Thea , a matriculant from Mountview Secondary School in KwaZulu- Natal , prior to their departure .
Boiketlo , from Sedaven High School in Gauteng , said that even before boarding the plane , the group already learned a lot from the various speakers that helped them prepare for the trip .
Kelly , from Diocesan School for Girls in the Eastern Cape , and Ayakha , from the Centre of Science and Technology in the Western Cape , learnt that the warm Columbia jackets given to the group , and that proudly bears the PPS logo , was just the thing to keep them warm when they were out and about on the icy planes .
The matrics enjoyed a host of activities including scientific experiments , survival lessons , camping and kayaking as well as an attempt to set a record for the Guinness Book of World Records for the 100-metre sprint on frozen ground .
Ayanda Seboni , Executive : PPS Brand , Marketing & Communications , says it is an honour to have partnered with the initiative .
PPS provided each of the five winners life and disability cover that covers hazardous pursuits and international events .
The matrics ’ adventures on Antarctica will be broadcast on National Geographic later this year .
Click here to view an album of the matric ’ s icy escapades .
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