The Paint-A-Thon is an initiative by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw), which is teaming up with creative youth programme Artjamming for the two-day Paint-A-Thon, starting tomorrow (July 11) at Cavendish Square.

“We are having this event in a very popular and public place so that more people can learn about elephants, and so that we can raise environmental awareness among young people specifically,” said Christina Pretorius, Ifaw spokesperson in South Africa.

Children between the age of five and 12 are invited to attend free “paint jams” at the shopping mall tomorrow between 10h00 and 16h00. On Thursday July 12, 50 registered children will be matched with local celebrities for a one-hour session to paint doors in elephant themes. The doors will be auctioned at 17h30 to raise funds for Ifaw’s elephant protection work.

“The doors will then be put up in a public place as a permanent reminder of the elephants and the risks they are facing,” explained Pretorius. “Ideally the doors should be placed in schools where young people will see them, but the people who buy the doors will ultimately decide where they go.”

For more on Ifaw, visit www.ifaw.org/africa