The Google Doodle has fast become an internet tradition, chronicling and commemorating historical figures and world events with a pithy, global aesthetic, and now, the world’s most popular search engine is giving South African kids a chance to draw a doodle.
The Doodle 4 Google competition is inviting South African children between the ages of 6 and 17 to send in their doodles and stand a chance to win tablets, Google Play vouchers, R100 000 worth of technology for their school and, of course, see their winning doodle on the website’s South Africa front page.
The competition, which opened on 30 July, invites submissions under the theme: South Africa of My Dreams. According to Google, it is a commemoration of South Africa’s 20 years of democracy and a celebration of young people’s artistic and creative talent.
ABOUT THE GOOGLE DOODLE
Google Doodles started in 1998 when founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin wanted to let their users know they were out of the office at the Burning Man festival. Shortly after that they experimented with more designs; today, Google visitors across the world anticipate the doodles as the world commemorates and celebrates historical events and people.
DOODLING 4 GOOGLE
To enter children into the competition, teachers and parents must complete the registration form on the Doodle 4 Google registration page. Each child can submit one doodle only. Entrants fall into four age groups: six to eight; nine to 11; 12 to 14; and 15 to 17.
Entry forms can also be downloaded from the Doodle 4 Google website and all doodles must be submitted by 22 October 2014 to qualify for entry into the competition. Doodles can be uploaded to the registration site, or posted to Google at Doodle 4 Google, P.O Box 11882, Silver Lakes, 0054, South Africa.
THE DOODLE 4 GOOGLE JUDGES
Brand South Africa CEO Miller Matola will be on the guest judge panel alongside radio personality DJ Fresh; musician Yvonne Chaka; Springbok rugby player Patrick Lambie; Survivor SA winner Graham Jenneker; author John van de Ruit; media and technology entrepreneur Seth Rotherham; and actor Sven Ruygrok.
The judges will review and select the best doodles in each age group and members of the public can vote online for their favourites. The overall national winner is then selected by Google executives and will be announced at an event in Johannesburg on 29 November 2014. The winning doodle will appear on the Google South Africa home page for 24 hours on 2 December 2014.
For more information on the competition, restrictions, and criteria for entry visit Doodle 4 Google.