Mascot stirs children’s creativity

Over 2,000 pupils from schools in the western part of Accra are slugging it out among themselves in a heated contest to find a befitting name for the West Hills Mall mascot.

Pupils of some 20 first cycle schools selected from communities within and around West Hills Mall’s catchment area and from other parts of Accra West are participating in an exciting child-focused community outreach initiative which engages the artistic and creative potentials of children and seeks to connect them to their immediate surroundings. 

In February this year, when the exercise began, West Hills Mall gave out 5,000 colouring books to many pupils in 20 schools in a two-month long competition to pick five best artistic talents from the lot.

Children (aged between 4 and 12) from schools at New Weija, Dansoman, New and Old Bortianor, Kokrobite, GICEL-SCC and other communities in the West of the capital were given colouring books and crayons to colour the mascot – a convivial caterpillar character that is clad in a deep blue-and-yellow costume—and give it a befitting name to be adopted by the Mall for good. 

“The practical nature of this exercise has brought a lot of excitement to our pupils. Some of them have only heard about the mall but not seen it personally for themselves; this contest, however, seems to have brought the mall to their doorstep. 

“They are all extremely thrilled and would be over the moon if one of ours gets to win a prize,” said a teacher of a participating school at Dansoman.

Within the colouring book are forms in which the children must provide details about themselves, their school and contact information about their parents or guardians. 

Once completed, all forms were either submitted directly to the mall or collected at the various schools.

At the close of March, when the deadline for the submission of forms elapsed, more than 2,000 pupils had submitted entries. Judges have begun evaluating the forms to select the best five. The winners will be presented with special Samsung Kids Tablets.

“The level of enthusiasm displayed by the children, especially after they received their colouring books, was astounding.  I have no doubt that we are making a difference in the lives of these children. 

“I believe that this initiative which seeks to embolden schoolchildren and bring out their creative potentials should be a regular feature in our effort to build affinity with our immediate communities,” said Mr Michael Oduro Konadu, the Marketing Manager at West Hills Mall.