By Mildred Siabi-Mensah
Takoradi, Oct. 31, GNA – Charity Amoa Memorial School has emerged winner of the 2026 Build Me a Future (BMAF) Competition, taking home a cash prize of GH¢5,000.00 for its creative presentation of a child-friendly community.
Angel Grace Assemblies of God School placed second with GH¢4,000.00, while Rev. Dunwell Methodist Primary School placed third.
The competition, spearheaded by the Centre for Learning and Childhood Development (CLCD) under the Engaging Policymakers in Intersectoral Collaboration for Children (EPIC) project, sought to give children a platform to express their development aspirations and contribute to decisions affecting their communities.
It challenged pupils to design and present the kind of communities they wanted to live in, using locally available and recycled materials to construct models depicting their ideas.
Mr Isaac Aidoo, a team member, speaking on the relevance of the initiative, said children had valuable perspectives on community development and must be given opportunities to participate in shaping their future.
He said the competition went beyond creativity to encourage critical thinking, problem-solving and active participation in development processes.
The initiative also highlighted the importance of listening to children in policymaking, particularly on issues concerning their safety, education, health, recreation and general wellbeing.
Fifteen schools were targeted for the competition, out of which eight submitted entries for assessment.
The entries were evaluated based on creativity, connectivity and clarity, with emphasis on how well the models communicated the children’s vision of an ideal community.
The BMAF initiative formed part of broader efforts to promote children’s participation in policymaking and strengthen intersectoral collaboration in addressing challenges affecting their development.
It provides an opportunity for children to move beyond being recipients of development interventions to becoming active contributors to the planning and development of their communities.
Madam Araba Dennis, Executive Director of African Women International, said the model community was not just a competition but an avenue for children to communicate their desired future.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga /Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter Mildred Siabi-Mensah