School children write messages to be opened 50 years time

Accra, Jan 24, GNA - Students from seven vocational schools in the country have written messages in the form of artworks to depict how the future generation would be like after 50 years, Ms Linda Adjei an Officer at the Vocational Training Institute for Female said on Wednesday in Accra.

The artworks were exhibited at a ceremony as part of a big treasure chest, a time capsule containing messages from children of the future and serve as a catalyst for communication among children and adults. The schools include St Mary's Vocational Training Institute, Eastern region, Madina Women Training Institute, Accra, Kibi Community Development Technical Institute, Eastern region, Kwamo Community Development Technical Institute, Ashanti region, Margaret Buchner Girls Vocational Institute, Brong Ahafo region, Ramseyer Vocational Institute, Ashanti region and Abetifi Vocational Training Institute in the Eastern region.

The treasure chest project was initiated in Germany where it was supported by United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO), Paris and the German Commission of UNESCO in Bonn within the framework of the UNESCO universal declaration on cultural diversity.

Ms Adjei said the project created dialogue between today's generation and that of the future and enhances the talents and creativity of children.

She said the project targets children between the ages of eight to fifteen years, artist and craftspeople, educators and educational institutions, media, public and private institutions. Ms Adjei noted that the messages would be placed in the national museum where they would stay till 2050.

About 30,000 children in 13 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and North America have participated in the project and the numbers are growing.

In each participating country, an artist is called upon to create a treasure chest, typical of their own traditions. The big treasure chest will be a special contribution to Ghana's 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations by the children of the nation. 24 Jan. 2008