Doodle4Google in Ghana

I'm reblogging this post from the Google Africa blog. It was written by Estelle Akofio-Sowah, the head of Google Ghana and Africa Leadership Initiative fellow. I'm encouraged by the work Google does to encourage creativity among the youth and by the fact that they go the extra mile to showcase it. Most of all, I'm glad that the Ghanaian public is getting behind their youth and supporting them in projects such as these.

At Google we work hard to bring the Internet closer to our users. We also love to encourage and celebrate the creativity of young people. Doodle4Google is a great way to achieve this. This year, over 700 submissions from over 50 schools were an amazing display of the imagination of young people in Ghana about what Ghana represents to them.

We hope that today (Wednesday 15th June), when we feature the winning Doodle from the 9 - 11 year old category, and tomorrow (Thursday 16th June), featuring the winning Doodle from the 12 - 14 year old category on google.com.gh, Ghanaians will enjoy these amazing doodles that creatively capture what is special and unique about Ghana in the eyes of our youth.

On June 11th, Marvels Mini Golf course in Dzorwulu, Accra was the venue for hosting the 80 top-performing doodlers in this years Doodle4Google “My Ghana” competition. The kids arrived with a great sense of excitement and anticipation in advance of the announcement of this year’s winners. They had loads of fun with new friends, learning origami and mini golf skills with the team from the Kokrobitey Institute. Our special guest Kwaku Sintim Misa (KSM) shared inspiring words on the importance of education and dreaming big, whilst a performance from “2 Puff”, got everyone dancing with their fun dance moves.

The high quality of all the doodles submitted made choosing our winners no easy task! With a great big African drum roll, we unveiled the winning Doodles by Nil Carreras Del Peso from the French School and Nana Abena Asabea Ametepe from Golden Age School.

Nil, aged 11, named his doodle “Traditional Ghana”, a blend of Ghana’s rich culture, from our Gye Nyame symbol, coconut trees, beads, village huts and flag. Nana who is 12, named her doodle “Home Sweet Home”, a popular saying in Ghana used on shops, buses, and on what used to be a popular means of public transportation, our “tro-tros”. Her doodle is an amazing watercolour painting capturing a traditional village scene with two women carrying water pots on their heads.

The winners also received a Kindle loaded with great books including “Voice in the Forest” by Efua T. Sutherland and “The Days” by Ama Ata-Aidoo and a laptop respectively. In addition, the schools of both winners received a USD 2,000 technology grant.

For all of us at Google, this year’s competition has been an incredible insight into the creative minds of young people. We hope you enjoy their doodles as much as we have! Congratulations again to Nil and Nana Abena!