School Mascot Competition
Last Friday the winners of the Wild Bunch Bags drawing competition were announced during morning assembly at Kinabalu International School (KIS) and to say the students were excited would be an understatement. I was so pleased to see the students receive recognition for their contribution to this campaign from the school and loud cheers from fellow students as they all submitted such beautiful and talented artwork, which made selecting the three winners a near impossible task for the judges.
Over the past several weeks, Wild Kids Ink has facilitated a ‘Wild Bunch Bags’ campaign at the school with the objectives of raising awareness of wildlife in Sabah, Borneo and to raise funds for wildlife conservation. As part of the campaign three Guest Speakers, who all work locally in or with wildlife conservation gave presentations to all primary students at KIS.
The campaign has coincided with the students voting for and selecting three Sabah animals as mascots to represent each of their three schoolhouses, which are now known as the Sapi Sun Bears, the Sulug Sharks and the Gaya Pangolins.
Following on from the talks, a fact-finding and drawing competition was launched. To enter the competition the students had to carry out further research about their new house mascots and write down a fact about the animal as well as draw a picture of it and I can testify that there are some very talented young, budding artists at this school. I loved seeing their interpretations of Sabah’s wildlife and there was such a creative range of styles. From the very colourful Sun Bear submitted by the youngest contestant in foundation two, to some gorgeous pencil sketches and beautiful paintings of pangolins, and very talented Shark water colour and oil pastel artwork.
Once again, I would like to sincerely thank Dr (Hon) Wong Siew Te, CEO and Founder of Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, Mr. David McCann, Conservation Manager at Scuba Junkie S.E.A.S and Simon Enderby, CEO at Scubazoo.com / sz.tv for their talks to the students at KIS and for supporting this campaign. They each gave brilliant presentations to the KIS primary students and shared their knowledge; experience and contagious passion for some of Sabah’s terrestrial and marine wildlife.
100% of the funds raised through the sales of the ‘Wild Bunch Bags’ will be donated to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre through their Sun Bear adoption program; to Scuba Junkie S.E.A.S. towards their marine conservation work on Mabul Island; and to Re-grow Borneo via Danau Girang Field Centre, towards their tree-planting project in the Lower Kinabatangan rainforest. All is taking place here in Sabah, Borneo.
Last but not least, I want to thank all the students at KIS who have contributed with their beautiful artwork that I now have the pleasure of working with when I create three new designs for the Wild Bunch Bags. More information will follow soon concerning sponsorship and sales of the Wild Bunch Bags as well as the funds we raise through this campaign.
Please follow Wild Kids Ink on facebook and Instagram for updates on the campaign and other Nature and conservation events happening soon.
You can read more about the Wild Bunch Bags here. If you are interested in running a campaign at a school; want to know more about sponsorships and CSR programs or if you have any questions please get in touch here.
