The Oceans and Coasts branch of the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA O&C) has lauded the success of its decision to use a Z-CARD to promote National Marine Week last October. ‘Change: Climate, Oceans, People’, the theme for National Marine Week, was used to educate the youth.
National Marine Week is designed to foster a sense of pride in each South African for our beautiful oceans and coasts, celebrating the environment and the one-of-a-kind events that occur off our coasts such as the annual KwaZulu-Natal Sardine Run. Another National Marine Week goal is to raise awareness around the interconnectivity of our oceans with the rest of inland South Africa.
“The Z-CARD® was selected as an educational communication medium for the second year running by the DEA O&C as it offers a unique way to market the Department’s activities which appeals particularly to school pupils and the youth,” says Mr Zolile Nqayi, the Department’s Director of Communications.
“The medium enables us to inform our target audiences in a brief and creative way, without having to produce a whole book,” he adds. “The QR Code targeted our IT savvy target audience who would want more information about what the Department does.”
John Davis, MD of PocketMedia® Solutions, says the format is popular with children. “This is because children are bombarded with bulky notes and thick text books daily, so the compact size of the Z-CARD® is a huge plus. We are fully supportive of such initiatives and really take pleasure in playing our part.”
