Painting for Penguins: How Creativity is Helping Conservation

This March, I had the privilege of hosting four in-person watercolour workshops in support of SANCCOB’s Adopt-a-Penguin initiative—and what an incredible journey it has been! Thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of everyone who participated, we raised R6000, allowing us to adopt 10 penguins and contribute directly to the care of rescued seabirds at SANCCOB.

More Than Just a Name – How Penguin Adoptions Work

Adopting a penguin doesn’t mean you’re assigned a specific bird, but rather that your donation supports the rehabilitation and care of all rescued seabirds at SANCCOB. To make our contribution more personal, we spread our adoptions across ten playful penguin personalities, lovingly named:Butler, Rascal, Skittles, Coco, Marshmallow, Rolo, Mango, Lola, Noonoo, and Happy FeetA Special Visit from SANCCOBOne of the highlights of this series was a special visit from a SANCCOB representative, Jacqueline Du Plessis, who joined us for a session and shared insights about the critical conservation efforts being made to protect the endangered African penguin. She even brought along the child-sized penguin mascot, which I’m now undertaking the exciting project of painting and giving a colourful update!Why This Matters

African penguin populations have declined by nearly 98% over the past century, and without intervention, these remarkable seabirds face an uncertain future. That’s why I felt compelled to take action in a way that I could—through artivism. By blending creativity with conservation, we’ve not only raised funds but also awareness for a cause that truly needs our support.

Join the Movement – Help Save the Penguins!

The work doesn’t stop here! You can continue to support African penguin conservation by:

✅ Visiting SANCCOB’s website to learn more or make a direct donation

✅ Spreading awareness about the plight of African penguins

✅ Contributing financially to helps SANCCOB’s efforts

✅ Joining future artivism workshops and paint for a purpose!

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, donated, and helped make this initiative a success. Every brushstroke, every contribution, and every conversation brings us one step closer to a brighter future for the African penguin.