Help me represent South Africa at the Design2020 conference

Hey, my name is Minette!
I am a student at CPUT in Cape Town, currently studying for my Masters degree in the Sustainability and future of Plastic packaging.

In November 2019, I tried my luck and wrote a article on the future and sustainability of user behavioral patterns within the recycling of disposable plastics in South Africa.

To my surprise, my contribution was accepted by the Design2020 council and I was asked to present my article in Cavtat, Croatia in May 2020. In addition to presenting the article, it will also be published by the Cambridge University Press in the Proceedings of the Design Society: Design 2020 international design journal.

Currently my biggest hurdle is, the article will only be published if I can pay the registration fees by the 25th of February 2020. The conference registration fees add up to €975, excluding accommodation and transportation to and from Croatia. The accommodation for the 7 nights will be an additional €840.

Unfortunately, I won't be receiving any funding from my University and without this funding, I will not be able to attend the conference and present my paper

Reaching my target would mean that I get the opportunity to be internationally recognized for research in my field. I would be able to represent South Africa at an international design conference.

The aim of this article is to further the research on current recycling systems within South Africa. To ensure future growth and sustainability in the plastic industry, there needs to be a holistic change at local and government level. Holistic change can only take place once all facets of the system is taken into consideration. The goal of this study is to make plastic eco-friendly, financially viable and socially appropriate – thus suggesting new life cycle pathways for plastic packaging in the future.

Conference website: https://www.designconference.org/