During the first week of March, Otiwarongo children painted three 5m long pieces of fabric with cheetah images and other designs inspired by local nature and wildlife to help United States fashion designer, Jordan, create a unique piece of fashion to raise funds for the Cheetah Conservation Fund.
Two fabric panels were painted by a group of students from the Otijiwa-rongo Arts Centre among them children from the Joy Centre Orpha-nage as well as other local children and youths who attend the Arts Centre on weekday afternoons. The centre’s arts educators Mr. Martin Scott and Ms Patricia Munene worked with the students on com-pleting the designs using fabric paint and markers. - A third piece of fabric was decorated by the learners of classes 7a and 7b of Rogate Primary School in Otjiwa-rongo. Their teacher and long-time CCF supporter Mr. Ludwig Swartz guided his pupils in transferring their ideas to the canvas using colourful markers and crayons.
CCF Executive Director Dr. Laurie Marker will take the decorated pieces of fabric to the U.S. next week where she will attend CCF fundraising events and give a series of lectures and presentations on CCF’s conservation and education work.- Prominent US fashion designer Jordan has invented the Billboard Coat, a unique piece of clothing, created to raise awareness for issues and causes which need public support. After previously working with a school for homeless children in the US, Jordan has now donated her time and expertise to create awareness for the plight of the wild cheetah. - The designs the children painted onto the fabric will the transferred onto silk and Jordan will create a unique, bias-cut coat from it which CCF can use to raise funds for its research, education and conservation work by either auctioning the coat or making it available to ladies who will wear it to functions and pay for the privilege. Jordan’s unique CCF coat is bound to be a talking point wherever it is being worn.- The fabric was kindly donated by Chelsea Fabrics, Windhoek and Global Textiles, Otjiwarongo.
To support Rogate Primary School, please phone 067-303379 and to donate art materials to the Otjiwarongo Arts Centre, please contact Martin Scott at 081-2854315

The Otjiwarongo Arts Centre students display the 5m art piece to be used by U.S. fashion designer Jordan to raise funds for the Cheetah Conservation Fund.