FUNclusion: Unveiling Infinite Creativity Through Inclusive Art Workshops

Day：2026.02.20

event ｜

— Artworks of Children with Disabilities to be Featured on Electric Buses Operated by TranSonica Ltd., Developed by Mago Motos Ltd. —

As part of JICA’s initiative “FUNclusion – Co-creating an Inclusive Future with Africa”, JICA Ghana organized a series of Inclusive Art Workshops in late 2025, bringing together children with disabilities, JICA Volunteers, local partner schools, and renowned Ghanaian artist, Mr. Nico Wayo.

The workshops aimed to unveil infinite creativity of children with disabilities through artistic expression while fostering perception change in the society regarding persons with disabilities. These creative sessions also form a key component JICA’s broader commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) in Ghana.

Inclusive Art Workshops: Creating Space for Expression and Confidence

Workshops were held at:

・ Kibi School for the Deaf (24–25 November, 2025)
・Aboom School for Special Needs in Cape Coast (1–2 December, 2025)

Under the guidance of Mr. Wayo and his team, students explored new art techniques and participated in activities designed to nurture creativity, self-confidence, and self-expression.

At Kibi School for Deaf

Students explored artworks inspired by sign language and their own preferred themes of expressions. They experimented with expressive lines and bold colors to represent their own voices in visual form.

At Aboom School for Special Needs

Students created pieces using circles and squares, transforming them into heart motifs- symbolizing love and care. They practiced color mixing and produced their own vibrant and unique pieces.

These pieces revealed the depth, originality, and creativity that children often do not have the opportunity to showcase publicly.

The Moving Galleries: A Partnership Rooted in Inclusion and Innovation

The artworks created during these workshops will be featured on electric buses that will be introduced through a collaborative initiative between Mago Motors Ltd. and TranSonica Inc.. The works will be displayed as exterior wraps, turning the vehicles into moving galleries that spotlight creativity and inclusion. The Electric Buses will be operating within University of Ghana from February 24^th 2026.

About our Partners

Mago Motors is a Japan‑based social enterprise operating in Agbogbloshie, Accra—widely known as one of the world’s largest electronic‑waste zones—where it advances EV, recycling, and agriculture initiatives as part of its “Sustainable Capitalism” concept and job creation mission.

TranSonica (TranSoniCa Company Limited) is a Ghanaian startup deploying contactless smart‑card payments for transportation and daily purchases, using technology developed with Japan and inspired by Japanese transit IC systems (e.g., Suica/FeliCa). It has operated around the University of Ghana, pursuing broader roll‑out of cashless mobility payments.

Why This Matters

The Inclusive Art Workshops emphasize three key goals:

1. Encouraging Children with Disabilities
Creating platforms where children’s abilities—not their limitations—take center stage.

2. Promoting Inclusive Communities
Strengthening understanding and positive perceptions of disability through creativity.

3. Connecting Inclusion with Innovation
Demonstrating that sustainability and inclusion can coexist in national development programs.
Through FUNclusion, JICA continues to promote a world where all individuals—regardless of disability—are respected, valued, and able to participate fully.