2020 has been a difficult year, due to the appearance and pandemic spread of a novel coronavirus. Even though the turmoil caused by this coronavirus is still unresolved, Panasonic's Kid Witness News (KWN) decided to go ahead with its global event. This year was the first online event in KWN history as we welcomed the winning schools from each country.

The Other Kids

We shouldn't compare a child against others, because every child has unique strengths and talents.



Ban Mai Primary School

Vietnam

The Starting Line

Have compassion and charity for your fellow people, whatever their condition may be.



Morimura Gakuen Elementary School

Japan

MARK ROSO, The Island Boy

Find pride and fulfillment in your life, however that life may be.



Kuala Besut Secondary School

Malaysia

KWN Global Summit 2020 Report

The Kid Witness News (KWN) Global Summit 2020 was held November 21 - 22, 2020. Due to the spread of COVID-19, it was the first Summit held online. A total of 26 kids from 6 schools in 4 countries, as well as teachers and other participants joined this year's Summit. Here is a summary of the works and interaction of the kids, selected from 1900 students from 129 schools.

Primary category (November, 21)

Animated video workshop 1
Animated video workshop 2
Animated video workshop 3
Animated video workshop 4

Animated video workshop

A special workshop was held featuring a lecture by Yuichi Ito, a well-known clay animator and a professor at the Graduate School of Tokyo University of the Arts. As soon as Prof. Ito’s demo has ended, each team started on their work. The theme was "Pass the SDGs Baton!" Using the waste materials that the kids brought, they linked the SDGs wheel that represents the baton to each country. Assigned with tasks on camera, background, and animation, the kids then continued to work on making the video. It was an interesting workshop that even when the next program has started, kids continue to work on the video.
Their amazing work is here (YouTube).

Discussion and Finale 1
Discussion and Finale 2

Discussion and Finale

Discussion on the 5 videos of final entry. On the entry from Malaysia about bullying, the kids from Japan commented, "The message of the video was easy to understand. Even though the language was different, the concept was relatable and compelling." On the video from Vietnam about being compared by the adults to other kids, participants with similar experience shared opinions such as "Every child is different," and "Parents should see this video." Entries from Japan and Brazil with topics about persons with disability were also very inspirational. The kids commented on Japan's video that shows the role of surrounding people through sports with compassion and charity, while Brazil's video that focuses on each person's ability to enjoy life. The kids were also inspired by the video from China filled with wonderful messages for medical workers working hard to fight against COVID-19. At the end, the kids chose to give The Kids' Award to the entries from Japan and Vietnam.

Secondary category (November, 22)

Discussion and Finale 1
Discussion and Finale 2

Discussion and Finale

The Secondary category discussed on 3 videos. The entry from Vietnamese students, who, unfortunately, could not join the event, is about kids playing, learning, and growing up safely. The team from Japan gave an incisive comment, "While it is noticeable that barrier-free design is advancing, comparing to the Western society, there are still lots of difficulties." The video from Japan expressed that the things that may be simple to many, are not simple in the eyes of people who have disabilities. Malaysian students were really proud of them because of their strength. On the other hand, the video from Malaysia which focuses on a boy who works to help the family, left an impression, "he seems to be enjoying while working." All of the entries are connected to the SDGs message of "Leaving no one behind." Then, the Kids' Award went to the entry from Malaysia.

thank you
KWN Global Contest 2019
RESULTS

After a difficult decision from our Judges, here are the Primary and Secondary School Grand Prix winners and other award winners. Please take a look at these wonderful videos.


KWN KIDS AWARD

An award to the video voted most by the children who participated in the Award Ceremony. No votes for ones own school, a video from each category will have a winner (Primary & Secondary Category).


Messages

Messages from the teams that were selected as finalists. Here are the thoughts & backstories behind each video.

Primary Category
Ordinary Days
Message

We are poor orphans. We only know the orphanage, the school, the church and the farm. This is how we spend time in our everyday lives.  Show us your day. We want to see the world.

Sunshine After Rain
Message

Factors behind primary school dropouts in Malaysia are child marriage, poverty, lack of interest in studies, health problems, disability and social problems. An example, buying a pair of new shoes or socks is not a problem for children living in the city but it may be a problem for village children. Most of the students in these areas are willing to work after school/weekends for money. Sometimes sacrificing a higher education. One of the important ways to stop poverty.

Shiro and the Furoshiki
Message

Though we benefit from the ocean, we have been dumping garbage and killing sea life.  Using one of Japan's old traditions, we can eliminate the trash and save nature. The  convenient and eco-friendly Furoshiki .

Secondary Category
SPORT FOR LIVING [BOXING FOR LIFE]
Message

From setting up Interviews, shooting and editing, we wanted to convey Rak's life to the people. A boy who only earns 4000 baht per bout to take care of his family.

I'm okay
Message

We want children to understand that you don’t have to be these celebrities or social media stars to be someone in this world. Teens are often given the false impression that everyone else's life is full of happiness, travel, amazing experiences comparing their lives with the people they follow.

Treasure
Message

Malaysia produces an average of 30,000 ton of waste every day. However, 40% of it does not go into proper trash bins. Think before you throwaway. 

RESULTS

After a difficult decision from our Judges, here are the Primary and Secondary School Grand Prix winners and other award winners. Please take a look at these wonderful videos.

KWN KIDS AWARD

The KWN Kids Award is an award given to the video voted by the children who participated in the KWN Global Summit 2018. The first of its kind, this award was chosen by the children for each school category (Primary & Secondary Category).

Messages

Messages from the teams that were selected as finalists. Here are the thoughts & backstories behind each video.

Primary Category
A Message
Thailand

Anuban Saraburi School

Message

We hope this video will make everyone communicate in person more.

The Bremen Cog
Germany

Junior High Geestemünde

Message

We are very proud to finish our first media project in school with the honor to show our result in a museum. When the exhibition was opened for kids, we also became good instructors not only for the young visitors but for all. “It is cool to focus on something, go all over the museum to find the right answers and be inspired by the huge amount of things from history. This work was worth it and it was so much fun to transform history into a story step by step”. Enjoy!

My Troublesome Friend
Hong Kong

Hong Kong Red Swastika Society Tuen Mun Primary School

Message

To understand the ones who need help. With the help of our teacher, we all learned how to work together.

Secondary Category
STITCHED LOVE
U.S.A

Val Verde High School

Message

The students want to convey the importance of self-worth and self-love through this video, as so many people are suffering with these issues. With knowledge and forgiveness, a person can move forward and lead a successful and productive life regardless of their past.

Help... I'm Trapped
Indonesia

111 Junior High School

Message

To show the affects gadgets can have on the relationships we have with our family and friends, our social life.

Living Together
Thailand

Assumption College Thonburi

Message

We need to show love to all life. We want to say that not everyone in this world can live with elephants like Thai but, we want to show how people live with elephants; taking care of elephants culture and wisdom. In this project, we look closely into people and elephants helping us understand how people put effort to take care of all life in the world. This project make us know, “If we live in this world with love we can live happily”.

Judges



Takayuki Aikawa KWN Global Office
Sheril Antonio U.S.A.
Lucksana Klaikao Thailand
Kazuo Ishida
Shingo Yamazaki
Guido Weihermuller Germany
Blu Steven New Zealand
Yuichi Ito Japan
dai tamesue
Rika Fukuda
Special Judges
Philippe Furrer International Olympic Committee (IOC)
Mark Wallace Olympic Broadcasting Service (OBS)
Duane Kale International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
Wendy Mclnroy Olympic Broadcasting Service (OBS)