PAN AFRICAN WOMEN INVENT & INNOVATE AWARDS – PAWII 2005
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD 2005 – MRS. LARA COOKEY
The first Pan African Women Invent & Innovate Exhibition, Conference & Awards 2005 was held in Accra, Ghana from Wednesday, 7th – Friday, 9th September, 2005. Sponsored by the Republic of Ghana, The International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group and the Ghana Ministry of Women & Children Affairs – MOWAC, the event featured Women Inventors and Entrepreneurs from all of Africa. Pre-selected nominees were invited to exhibit their innovations and products. The judging panel was chaired by Mr. Paul Ambridge, President of the Institute of Inventors and Patentees, U.K. Awards were presented at a Gala Dinner at a ceremony at the International Conference Centre, Accra on Friday, 9th September, 2005.
Nigeria PAWII 2005 award winner, Lara Cookey has identified the gaping need for direct attention to be paid to ‘Play’ as an essential component of children’s development, and has built a growing business from addressing that need. Play is not just a spare time activity, but also a vital part of growing up, of exercising both the body and the imagination, and of learning about oneself and social interaction. Children incorporate elements of real life into play, and gain confidence in their interactions and emotional control. Play allows children to expand their horizons and learn new behaviour. Lara has directed attention to ‘Play’ as a vital component of learning, and has positively affected the content and quality of both school and leisure environments.
The company, CONTEXT DESIGN LIMITED, was incorporated in Ghana in 1997, and is now the foremost designer and manufacturer of creative children’s toys, furniture, playgrounds and environments. The company has a retail shop in Accra and its own workshop. A website is under construction.
Lara Cookey has a proven track record in creative and innovative design. After a foundation course in Art and Design, she proceeded to Middlesex University, London where she graduated with a B.A Honours in Interior Design. She started her design career as an interior designer in Lagos, Nigeria where she worked in a joint practice with her husband Sam Cookey Jnr., the Architect. In 1996, they expanded to Accra, Ghana where she now resides. It was after the move to Ghana that she started to explore a long held dream – designing from scratch, her own range of children’s playground equipment, toys, furniture and accessories.
From working in the corporate sector of interior design, she has brought a strong design capability, analytical approach and problem solving, and an intrinsic understanding of wood detailing and construction to her new pursuit.
Her play equipment is the pride of most of the international schools in Accra. On identifying that financial constraints prevent many local schools from buying her products, she approached some large corporate firms to sponsor less privileged institutions. Some companies have also approached her on their own and she has now supplied a number of sponsored playgrounds, including Anglogold Ashanti and Teshie Orphanage. Current corporate sponsorship projects include The Autism Awareness Centre and the refugee camp at Budumburam.
The playgrounds have stimulated attention to the content and quality of play and leisure environments. The educational aids have highlighted the importance of early childhood development and learning through play. At the 3rd Early Childhood Development Conference in Accra (June 2005) her display drew rapt attention from a wide variety of delegates and educationists including UNICEF and various bodies involved in this area.
Last year, Context Design successfully gained accreditation into the ETLS (Ecowas Trade Liberalization Scheme) and our products now benefit from duty-free access to all West African countries. In harmony with our mission and philosophy, the children of West Africa can now enjoy safe, challenging and creative play.
Tel +233-21-810133 Tel-fax +233-21-810247 Mobile: +233-244-218352 context@ghana.com. |
