A group of school students from Cedar House merged their final art project with the International climate strike on the 24th of May. The strike took place from 11 am in front of the Parliament building in Cape Town.
“We use our art to express ourselves,” says Dee Janisch, one of the art teachers from Cedar House.
The climate strike was part of the Fridays for the Future movement. According to their website, the movement started in August 2018, inspired by Greta Thunberg, a Swedish school student, who had started striking every Friday in front of the Swedish Parliament building.
Janisch teaches an art module titled “Future Now”, and for her Grade 8 and 9 students, this particular climate strike was well-timed, as it happened at the end of their module.
“This is actually their exam,” Janisch explains.
Fellow Cedar House students from higher grades also joined them in support.
Janisch explains that the students had to design their own posters for the strike, write a letter of demand to hand over to Parliament, and come up with a song to chant.
According to Janisch, Parliament willingly received the letter of demand from the students.
The climate strike attendees were passionate about raising awareness about climate change as well as inspiring change. PHOTO: Elri Voigt
Cedar House was also joined by another school, Reddam House Atlantic Seaboard from Greenpoint. Reddam’s Head of Drama, Antoinette Dowds, said they were involved because of a passionate Grade 11 student, Willow Collins. The school supports the climate strike and Dowds hopes that it will inspire change in how the government deals with environmental issues.
“A lot of other countries have stepped in and I hope our government does too,” Dowds remarked.
Grade 8 and 9 students from Cedar House, proudly displaying the posters that formed part of their final art project. They were also joined by Reddam House students. PHOTO: Elri Voigt
Chloe Menteath, the organiser of this event, has been involved with the Fridays for the Future movement and the Extinction Rebellion since 2018.
“This is just the start, this is calling other people to join us. It’s a clarion call,” Menteath remarked.
Chloe Menteath, the organiser of the strike, with a fake, rubber snake on her head during the event. PHOTO: Elri Voigt
Chief Ishsaqua Sabodien, a Khoisan chief from the Gorechouqua tribe located in Ocean View, was also present at the strike.
“We have to believe that things will change, maybe not now but it will change for the better of mankind,” he says.
Eugene van Eck, one of the few adults present at the strike, urges others to get involved.
“We need more of this (the climate strike), we need more active citizenship,” he says.
Inside the climate strike on the 24th of May
Inside the climate strike on the 24th of May, which featured students from Cedar House and Reddam House Atlantic Seaboard and members of Fridays for the Future Cape Town. VIDEO: Elri Voigt