As an independent contractor within the specialist field of communication and sponsorship acquisition, I am acutely aware of both good and bad sponsorship opportunities.

It can’t be easy to select the most appropriate bang for buck, and return on investment is king for the corporates. But there are programmes that work, and businesses that use their budgets cleverly. Community sponsorships that don’t patronise, environmental sponsorships that speak with heart. Truly uplifting opportunities that don’t cost the earth, but might just save it.

Ocean Basket is a strategic partner of the Two Oceans Aquarium. More than a year ago they took naming rights to the Aquarium’s most-photographed exhibit: The Ocean Basket Kelp Forest. This kind of sponsorship is extremely beneficial to both parties, particularly when the intention behind it is leveraged and the message driven home. Ocean Basket has embarked on an impressive sustainability journey that encompasses the guiding principles of SASSI, an organisation that is promoted and respected by the Two Oceans Aquarium as the authoritative voice in sustainable seafood education and legislation.

What good is the idea of educating the adults of our flailing planet, without bringing the youth on board? We are talking about saving their resources, and we must show them how to do the same. The Two Oceans Aquarium Environmental Education Centre is a dynamic and tireless voice in this critical area, and sees around 50 000 learners on site at the Aquarium every year. The Two Oceans Aquarium recognises the significant role it has to play in meeting the challenges of sustainable management.

The Aquarium vigorously pursues creative opportunities to provide our children with positive environmental experiences that open their minds to the oceans and the life that they support. With classrooms specially fitted with terrariums and aquariums, they are uniquely positioned to make environmental education both stimulating and relevant. To complement the facilities, their education staff are specially trained in environmental education and appropriate teaching techniques, and are proficient in a number of languages.

With clever corporate or private sponsorship, more learners can be exposed to the life-changing opportunities on offer at the Aquarium. The Two Oceans Aquarium’s Adopt-a-School programme enables learners from under-resourced communities to enjoy a specially tailored, hands-on learning experience, which includes classroom-based lessons on a variety of environmental conservation themes, and a tour of the Aquarium to discover the ocean’s fauna and flora first hand.

Ocean Basket chose to extend its partnership with the Two Oceans Aquarium by sponsoring a group of 55 learners, aged 10 to 11. On 27 January 2014, Aquarium teacher Khonzani Lembeni held the collective imagination of the 50+ learners during a rather theatrical, always educational, classroom experience. The classroom facility is top-class, boasting a mini-aquarium per desk of seven learners, a smart board and other great interactive teaching aids. The lessons are always structured with the support of the Provincial Department of Education, and the current curriculum is taken into account. This ensures that the experience is as enriching as possible.

On arrival at the V&A Waterfront that morning, the learners from Itsitsa Primary School could be heard shrieking from their Golden Arrow bus. More than 50% of the group had never seen the ocean, and none had set foot in the V&A Waterfront.

The eager group was taught the difference between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, why water temperatures and marine life differ in each, and the importance of conserving our oceans as vital life-support systems. They held prickly sea urchins, large orange starfish and slippery pieces of kelp. Mr Lembeni taught enthusiastically in the learners’ first language of isiXhosa, explaining what an eco-system is, what makes up a rocky shore, and what each person can do to sustain their precious marine resources.

Constant interaction with the learners, who all fought for the opportunity to answer a question, kept the group entertained and enthralled. At the end of their lesson the group clapped out a song for Teacher Lembeni, who in turn asked them to thank me for bringing in the sponsorship required for their visit to the Aquarium. It was so unexpected, and their thanks so heartfelt, I cried.

A tour of the Two Oceans Aquarium included a special moment at the Ocean Basket Kelp Forest exhibit; a majestic window on to the world of an authentic and mesmerising kelp forest.

The bubbly group enjoyed a healthy snack pack, all part of the Ocean Basket sponsorship, before leaving the Aquarium with many stories to share with the rest of their school. Sponsored visits such as this are once in a lifetime for the children who are able to participate.

For more on how to sponsor a group of learners, email kim@kimstephens.co.za.

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