National Winners from 16 Countries and Regions Selected for Panasonic KWN Global Contest 2018

Osaka, Japan - Panasonic Corporation has completed the final judging process for the Global Contest 2018 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 25 national winners for the KWN Global Contest 2018 have been selected and approximately 100 representatives of the 25 winning schools in 16 different countries and regions will be invited to Tokyo to attend the "KWN Global Summit 2018" from July 24 to 28. During this period, the Grand Prix winners will be announced at the KWN Global Contest 2018 awards on July 27.

KWN activities are currently being conducted in 16 different countries and regions 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 29 years with a total of more than 180,000 children and their teachers taking part so far. As for this year, around 3,450 people took part from 16 different countries and regions around the world, with video submissions from 417 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 25 national winning entries from 16 countries and regions can be viewed from the following KWN Global Contest 2018 special website.

Participants: 16 countries and regions

KWN 2018 National Winners (Primary)

Nurtured by Nature
School: Rancho Minerva Middle School
Country: United States of America

Theme: Communication
Ten year old Luke was diagnosed with osteoarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. With the help and love of his family, doctors and nurses, he survived. To celebrate, Luke and his family visit an animal sanctuary to be "Nurtured by Nature".

It's Now or Never
School: Sainte marguerite d'Youville
Country: Canada

Theme: Communication
It's a set production where 2 young people listen to the radio and learns things are wrong and unfair in our world. In each act, kids try to find solutions.

EMA's Eco Day
School: Masaryk Primary School Navsi
Country: Czech Republic

Theme: Ecology
The day of a common child from another perspective. Reflection on what a person does in the ordinary life and how it affects the environment. Reflections on where the daily consumptions is taken and where it ends.

The Bremen Cog
School: Junior High Geestemunde
Country: Germany

Theme: Communication
The students were invited to the German Maritime Museum to produce a film about the oldest merchant ship found in Germany. After doing research with interviews in the museum, they started to concrete the facts and turn it into a series of scenes to make the story alive again.

Health is Wealth
School: The City School Junior B. PECHS
Country: Pakistan

Theme: Communication
Students will present the importance of health and staying strong through physical education classes.

MAGIC SMILE
School: MI AL MUHAJIRIYAH
Country: Indonesia

Theme: Communication
Rasya wants to create his world into peace through communication that can be understood by all humans, communication with the action of smile. Simple but difficult, he proves it through testing smiles in different situations.

Holding On
School: Cheras Jaya Primary School
Country: Malaysia

Theme: Communication
Aina, a 10 year old who just came back from the UK was relentlessly tormented for being different. She had been holding on, keeping away her pain and secrets, until one day, she decided to end her life.

A Message
School: Anuban Saraburi School
Country: Thailand

Theme: Communication
Digital technology makes communication more convenient. We have modern tools to communicate. They allow people who are faraway to be closer together but at the same time, it makes people who are close feel faraway.

Far away to return
School: Alfred Nobel School
Country: VIetnam

Theme: Communication
A boy likes to do art rather than learn math but he was forced to do a lot of math homework to prepare for the exams. He ran away from home to a ceramic village and had a good time playing pottery. His parents decide whether to have his son learn math or follow his interest and hobby.

We are together
School: Beijing Haidian Wanquan Primary School
Country: China

Theme: Communication
A girl who feels lonely and different becomes cheerful and optimistic on different occasions through interaction. It presents companionship, bringing happiness in daily lives.

My Troublesome Friend
School: Hong Kong Red Swastika Society Tuen Mun Primary School
Country: Hong Kong

Theme: Communication
Siu Tin is a transfer student and has a new partner name Tao Cai. She hates Tao Cai but one day Tao Cai drops out of school. He leaves something on his seat letting Sui Tin know his true feelings.

Feelings
School: Sakurayama Elementary School
Country: Japan

Theme: Communication
Many emotions are involved in the relationship between people, nature and things. However those who experienced the earthquake have gained a new perspective. They noticed that what seems natural is not always after all.

Rainy Memory
School: Mwengemshindo Primary School
Country: Tanzania

Theme: Communication
A little girl who has HIV/AIDS wants to live along life so that she can go for her dreams.

KWN 2018 National Winners (Secondary)

Stitched Love
School: Val Verde high School
Country: United States of America

Theme: Communication
Elijah who is having a counseling session with his adult counselor recounts the sad story of his early life and lack of parental love. The only constant in his inconsistent life was a stuffed toy bear named Teddy. The counselor tells that he should not allow his past to dictate his future.

KWN Broadcast FINAL 1
School: Barrie North Collegiate
Country: Canada

Theme: Communication
The kids created a news broadcast to inform people what is happening in the LGBTQ+ community.

The Incredible Rainbow Boy
School: Pioneer Educational Center
Country: Brazil

Theme: Communication
A boy wants to show that with his super power, he can make people happy without the addiction of using the cellphone.

A Champion's Dream
School: Panamerican School of Panama
Country: Panama

Theme: Sports
A boy was motivated by watching the Panamanian soccer team play. As time passed, he learns the importance of lessons and values.

Neu
School: Heinrich-Heine-Grammar School / High School
Country: Germany

Theme: Communication
After moving from Berlin to Hamburg, Mika faces the first day at her new school. In a nightmare, she experiences her worst fears. Luckily, everything turns out alright the next morning.

Phantoms
School: Elite Private School
Country: UAE

Theme: Communication
A family whose members by different social and personal problems, each member has his or her own life complications. The story depicts how the family is torn and the family bonds are lost, and it also reveals the contemporary family problems that people encounter nowadays.

Help... I'm Trapped
School: 111 Junior High School
Country: Indonesia

Theme: Communication
Putri is a student who is very addicted to her smartphone. Because of that she doesn't care about anything. Her family and friends become forgotten because the only thing Putri cares about is her smartphone.

Nasi Lemak and Tosai
School: SMK Seksyen 9 Shah Alam
Country: Malaysia

Theme: Communication
A depiction of a racial issue taking place in school. A simple incident changes everything.

Living Together
School: Assumption College Thonburi
Country: Thailand

Theme: Communication
A story of a girl who grows up with taking care of elephants. Her goal is to become a veterinarian in order to help the elephants. These opportunities lead people to conserve Thai wisdom.

My Dad's Pair of Shoes
School: Tan Lap High School
Country: Vietnam

Theme: Sports
Chi has a dream to become a sprinter like his dad, who was injured while practicing and paralyzed one of his leg. His mom opposed strongly of becoming a sprinter but Chi never gave up and began to pursuit his dream and fulfill his dad's unfinished aspiration.

It's been a long time. How are you? I'm...
School: Saitama Prefectural Ogawa Senior High School
Country: Japan

Theme: Communication
In order to be liked by our friends, we often force ourselves to conform to them. However, once we reach our breaking point, our true selves will inevitably come out.

ANGERA AFRICA ASANTE
School: Luwawasi
Country: Tanzania

Theme: Communication
This film shows how a girl overcomes her stammering with singing and will ultimately lead her to fulfill her dreams.

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