Calling all passionate wildlife conservationists and budding designers! We’re challenging you to design a poster. You must either use the words ‘Protect Malawi’s Wildlife’ or ‘Titeteze chilengedwe chathu’. Beyond this, write, draw or design whatever you want!” There’s a total of MK200,000 worth of prizes to be won.
Why protect Malawi’s wildlife?
Malawi has a rich natural heritage which is the envy of so many other countries. Yet we are now at a crossroads – we could lose it all. 50% of the world’s species have been lost in the past 40 years. Elephants, one of our iconic species, could be extinct in the wild by 2025 if current rates of poaching continue. We have a duty to protect our natural heritage, and not just for the sake of the animals. The state of our fish, wildlife and plant populations is also a measure of our ecosystem health, and the delicate balance is crucial for our very survival. Any single loss of species can set off a chain reaction that has far reaching impacts on everything from agriculture to climate change. What’s more, Malawi’s economy needs to grow, tourism helps our economy and tourism needs wildlife.
The Nation has teamed up with Lilongwe Wildlife Trust to give you the chance to add your voice to Malawi’s biggest ever wildlife campaign. Anyone is welcome to add their voice to the campaign to show your support – it’s the taking part that counts. However we also have the following prizes available to Malawian citizens and residents:
Under 14’s (English version): 1st prize: MK20,000. 2nd prize: 10,000. 3rd prize: 5,000.
Under 14’s (Chichewa version): 1st prize: MK20,000. 2nd prize: 10,000. 3rd prize: 5,000.
14 – 18 years (English version): 1st prize: MK20,000. 2nd prize: 10,000. 3rd prize: 5,000.
14 – 18 years (Chichewa version): 1st prize: MK20,000. 2nd prize: 10,000. 3rd prize: 5,000.
The overall winner will also receive an additional MK30,000 and will be published in the Nation. We shall also award ‘stop wildlife crime’ t shirts to our top 10 favourite international entrants: Every entry will be published online at www.lilongwewildlife.org. The winning entries will also be reprinted for use in the ongoing ‘stop wildlife crime’ campaign which is led by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife and Lilongwe Wildlife Trust.
How to enter
Submit your design on A4 paper. Both hand drawn and computer graphic designs are welcome. Your messages should be in either Chichewa or English depending on the category you are entering. On the back you must write your name, age, school (if relevant), address, contact number and email address (if available).
It is also possible to email your entry to kat@lilongwewildlife.org. Please make sure that your files are no larger than 2MB and are sent as PDF’s or JPG’s.
Deadline for entries are 13th April 2015. Winners announced on 20th April.
Rules
The judge’s decision is final. Only the winners will be contacted and no other correspondence will be entered into. All entries must adhere to the entry recommendations.