Eclectic collaboration set to benefit conservation and the community

Pangolin.Africa, Pip, The Stellenbosch Brewing Company and HANGAR49 have joined forces to raise much-needed awareness and funds for the protection of the most trafficked wildlife species on earth: the pangolin.

The collaboration was initiated by Janine Greyling, who founded the community initiative Pip in 2015 to create opportunities for the elderly to use their skills to produce hand-crafted accessories which are sold to supplement their social grant income. The project expanded to include a range of crocheted endangered species soft toys, and Janine expanded the beneficiaries of the project by donating a portion of sales from crocheted pangolin toys to Pangolin.Africa, a non-profit working to ensure the survival of the species. 
Janine’s excellent networking skills also linked Pangolin.

Africa with the Stellenbosch Brewing Company. Founders Bruce and Karen Collins believe that beer can tell a story and bring people together over a collective cause. The brewery’s core values, which include respect and upliftment of nature and communities, made them an ideal partner for the collaboration. They have created a Belgian Wit beer called “Pangolin/Ietermagog” to profile the African Pangolin, with profits from the sale of the beer to be donated to Pangolin.Africa towards their conservation and rehabilitation work.

The launch of the collaboration was hosted by the gourmet coffee roastery Haas Coffee and further supported by global sales outreach automation company HANGAR49, who commissioned and sponsored a pangolin painting on canvas by illustrator and storyboard artist Chip Snaddon. A second artwork – a pangolin drawing created for the occasion by illustrator, tattoo and nature enthusiast Marisa Noordergraaf - was donated by the artist and the two pieces were auctioned off on the night, with the proceeds again being donated to Pangolin.Africa. 

Says director of Pangolin.Africa Toby Jermyn: “Pangolin.Africa is delighted to be involved in this very special collaboration, which aims to generate funds for the protection of the most trafficked animal on earth, while at the same time providing an additional income and greater sense of purpose for elderly, disadvantaged women of Pip. With the help of our partners in the initiative we also hope to raise the profile of this very secretive and elusive species which many people have never even heard of.” 

The crocheted pangolins are available for purchase online at www.pipit.co.za.

Pangolin Wit beer is available at The Stellies Taproom located at the brewery on Klein Joostenberg Farm, and stocked in select bottle stores countrywide. To find your nearest distributor, email info@stelliesbeer.com