DECODE and DIAT Lead Impactful Community Engagement and Donation Drive at Garden City Special School
Empowering Inclusion Through Design, Education, and Community
On 14 May 2026, the Department of Communication Design (DeCoDE) and the Department of Industrial Art and Technology (DIAT) at the College of Art and Built Environment (CABE), KNUST, spearheaded a high-impact community engagement workshop and donation drive at the Garden City Special School in Kumasi.
Organised in collaboration with the Inclusive Tech Group (ITG) and key institutional and community partners, the initiative exemplified KNUST’s strategic commitment to inclusive education, social responsibility, and participatory community development.
Running from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, the workshop was structured around interactive, hands-on learning experiences tailored to the needs of the pupils. Activities include creative colouring sessions centered on environmental sustainability, discussions on sanitation and healthy living and collaborative learning exercises promoting participation and expression. The design of the programme reflected DECODE and DIAT’s pedagogical approach—leveraging visual communication, design thinking, and participatory methods to enhance understanding and engagement.
The result was a vibrant, inclusive learning environment where pupils actively interacted with facilitators, teachers, and university volunteers—reinforcing a strong sense of belonging, care, and empowerment. The success of the engagement was underpinned by multi-stakeholder collaboration, bringing together Faculty and students from DeCoDE and DIAT, representatives from Inclusive Tech Group (ITG), health, design, and community development experts and teachers and administrators of the Garden City Special School.
Key Coordinators included Dr. Ralitsa Diana Debrah (DeCoDE / ITG) and Dr Kwabena Esubonteng (DIAT), whose leadership ensured effective coordination, inclusive facilitation, and meaningful impact delivery.
A central component of the outreach was the donation drive, through which educational and support materials were presented to the school. These contributions were aimed at enhancing teaching and learning resources, supporting pupil wellbeing and development and strengthening institutional capacity. The gesture was met with deep appreciation from the school’s leadership, staff, and pupils; highlighting the tangible value of university-community partnerships. This initiative clearly demonstrates how DECODE and DIAT are extending design and art beyond the studio and classroom into real-world impact spaces.
Through this engagement, the departments reinforced their role in inclusive design and education advocacy, promoted environmental awareness and health education, strengthened community-university linkages and showcased the transformative power of design-led social innovation
Special recognition goes to all contributors who made the programme a success, including: DIAT and DeCoDE staff and students, Management of CABE/KNUST, Staff and pupils of Garden City Special School, Dr (Mrs.) Roselyn Agyapong (Head Teacher), Prof (Mrs.) Mercy Badu (GIV Office, KNUST), Dr (Mrs.) Abigail Kusi-Amponsah Diji (Public Health Nursing, KNUST), Dr Enoch Acheampong (Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies, KNUST), DESIS Network and DesignGhana Team. Appreciation also goes to DeCoDe students who supported as facilitators namely Judith Nyante, Florence Gyebi, Robert Appau Boakye, Michael Nii Martey Kodie, Joseph Ayuekambey and Clifford N. Bamfo.
Looking ahead, DECODE and DIAT remain committed to sustained community engagement initiatives, leveraging design, technology, and interdisciplinary collaboration to drive inclusive and socially responsive development across Ghana and beyond. This event stands as a compelling model of how academic institutions can translate knowledge into meaningful societal impact.
