National Winners from 12 Countries selected for Panasonic KWN Global Contest 2019

Panasonic Corporation has completed the final judging process for the Global Contest 2019 of “Kid Witness News (KWN)”, an educational program designed to support the video production of elementary, junior high and high school students around the world.

The 18 national winners for the KWN Global Contest 2019 have been selected and approximately 70 representatives of the 18 winning schools in 12 different countries will be invited to Tokyo to attend the “KWN Global Contest 2019” from July 31 to August 2. During this period, the Grand Prix winners will be announced at the KWN Global Contest 2019 Award Ceremony on August 2 at Panasonic Center Tokyo.

KWN activities are currently being conducted in 12 different countries around the world as part of Panasonic’s educational support activities for the next generation. This is an interactive educational program in which participating schools are supplied with video equipment and the videos they produce are judged in contests every year. The children complete the entire production process by themselves, from planning to investigation, filming and editing. First launched in the United States in 1989, KWN has now been running for 30 years with a total of more than 180,000 children and their teachers taking part so far. As for this year, around 3,800 people took part from 12 different countries around the world, with video submissions from 315 schools. The five-minute videos were produced on three broad themes - “communications”, “environment”, and “sports” - as the children offered their own unique perspectives on issues close to them like sports, global environment, and people who have dealt with families, disabilities and PTSD. The 18 national winning entries from 12 countries and regions can be viewed from the following KWN Global Contest 2019 special website.

• 18 national winning entries

*Participants: 12 countries and regions
North America: Canada, United States
Latin America: Brazil
Middle East/Africa: Pakistan, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates
Asia: China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam

KWN 2019 National Winners (Primary)

1. Through Their Eyes

• Country: United States of America
  School: Rancho Minerva Middle School
  Theme: Communication
  Details: A young teen is discouraged after finding out she has to attend community service. She soon realizes that volunteering can change your perspective.

2. Chaque geste compte - Every little bit makes a difference -

• Country: Canada
  School: Ecole elementaire Gabrielle Roy
  Theme: Ecology
  Details: Students became aware of various environmental issues around them. They worked together to find solutions.

3. Sense

• Country: Brazil
  School: Pioneer Educational Center
  Theme: Communication
  Details: In a world where everyone is born with a congenital disability, having all the senses is considered different. To fit in, Mucino pretends to be mute. This decision causes problems with his virtual friend, Cecilia.

4. Earth has a Fever

• Country: Pakistan
  School: The City School, S041 Junior A, PECHS
  Theme: Ecology
  Details: Students performs a play showing the detrimental impact of deforestation on millions of species.

5. Sunshine After Rain

• Country: Malaysia
  School: Buso Chung Hua Primary School
  Theme: Communication
  Details: Rain seeks out a job because he envies his wealthy classmates. After finding a job, Rain soon realizes the importance of an education.

6. Inside Me

• Country: Thailand
  School: Anuban Saraburi School
  Theme: Communication
  Details: Satang lacks self-confidence. She becomes inspired by her new friend, Rung, who has a hearing disability and uses art to communicate with others.

7. Happy Birthday

• Country: Vietnam
  School: Thinh Quang Primary School
  Theme: Communication
  Details: After receiving an unwanted gift on his birthday, the boy becomes angry at his mother. His teacher realizing his anger teaches him that a birthday is more than a celebration about ones birth.

8. The Deadly Support

• Country: China
  School: Beijing Haidian Wanquan Primary School
  Theme: Sports
  Details: While training for a competition, a young member of the school’s aerobics team learns how to persist through failure, with the help of her teammates.

9. Shiro and Furoshiki -Sharing Furoshiki to the World-

• Country: Japan
  School: Morimura Elementary School
  Theme: Ecology
  Details: Two students discover the detrimental effects of ocean pollution from their friend, Shiro. KWN Japan shows us the good/convenient/eco-friendly “Furoshiki” is not only for Japan but for the entire world.

10. Ordinary Days

• Country: Tanzania
  School: Mwenge Mshindo Primary School
  Theme: Communication
  Details: Highlights of the everyday activities of an orphanage in Tanzania in order to educate the rest of the world to what life is like for them.

KWN 2019 National Winners (Secondary)

1. I’m Okay

• Country: United States of America
  School: Maui High School
  Theme: Communication
  Details: A teenage girl who is trying to accept herself, lets other influences get in the way.

2. Mirage

• Country: UAE
  School: Elite Private School
  Theme: Communication
  Details: The video raises awareness of the consequences of excessive social media use, especially the way smart phones distract us from reality.

3. Treasure

• Country: Malaysia
  School: Tok Janggut Secondary School
  Theme: Ecology
  Details: We are shown the importance of throwing rubbish in their proper dust bins. The students help their peer learn about the growing issue of waste in Malaysia.

4. Sport for Living [Boxing for Life]

• Country: Thailand
  School: Ammartpanichnukul School
  Theme: Sports
  Details: Rak a grade student competes in boxing competitions in order to take care of his family.

5. The Gold Carp

• Country: Vietnam
  School: Archimedes Academy
  Theme: Ecology
  Details: Students show us how to free a gold fish while raising awareness of water pollution on the environment.

6. Made by You

• Country: Hong Kong
  School: CCC Fong Yuh Wah Secondary School
  Theme: Communication
  Details: Through a mother’s flashbacks, this film tells the story of a secondary student losing his life to drug abuse.

7. New Friend

• Country: Japan
  School: Tachikawa School for the Deaf
  Theme: Communication
  Details: This video shows us loneliness and joy that everyone experiences. A story of a friendship when a deaf person joins a new school.

8. On the Road

• Country: Tanzania
  School: Sole Secondary School
  Theme: Communication
  Details: By telling Herman’s story, the children of Tanzania shows us that education is not preparation for life. Education is life itself.

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