Launching of International Student Design Competition in Ghana

Accra, Ghana, May 2, 2012— Architecture and proper design can influence local planning, encourage dialogue and establish new mindsets amongst students. This is because a carefully planned architectural design considers how communities can be inclusive and sustainable.

Given the fact that every month around the world over 1 million people turn 60 years old, with the fastest growth in developing countries and to encourage students to use their creativity to develop solutions that integrate older persons into the fabric of the community, the International Student Design Competition was organised. Dubbed “Integrated communities, a society for all ages”, the 2012 Competition is organised by the International Council for Caring Communities in cooperation with UN-Habitat, the United Nations Ageing Units, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the Asia Pacific Exchange and Cooperation Foundation (APECF) and other partners.

The Competition was announced recently in New York. In order to publicize it in Ghana and encourage Ghanaian students' participation, the UN Information Centre, Accra and the New Generation for Africa Foundation, in collaboration with the Ghana Institute of Architects, are to launch the Competition in Accra on Friday, May 4, 2012 at 10a.m at a brief ceremony at the Ghana Institute of Architects' auditorium.

Endorsed by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, the Competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students of architecture of Member States of the United Nations. Submissions must be works of an individual or team of students. Because the competition is open to individuals as well as groups of students, there will be two awards for each place. This means there will be two first place awards of $10,000 USD, two second place winners of $5,000 USD and two third place winners at $2,500 each USD.