Oscar Nomination: Nawi – A Film coproduced by Learning Lions

by Jan Veddeler, Co-Founder, Learning Lions

A story of courage, hope, and the transformative power of education:

NAWI is an educational feature film addressing the pressing issue of child marriage, particularly in Northern Kenya's Turkana region. As a co-producer, Learning Lions played a critical role in the project, which emerged from a writing competition to spotlight authentic, locally relevant stories. The winning story, submitted by Kenyan writer Milcah Cherotich, became the foundation for the film.

NAWI tells the story of a talented young girl, Nawi, whose aspirations are cut short when she is married off at a young age. This powerful narrative highlights the systemic challenges of child marriage while celebrating the resilience of Kenyan girls and the potential of education to create lasting change.

A global success story:

The film premiered in Nairobi in August 2024 and has since been selected as Kenya's submission for the Oscars. Beyond its cinematic success, it has sparked critical conversations around gender equity and the importance of education, particularly in underrepresented regions.

For Learning Lions, NAWI exemplifies how storytelling and education can converge to create meaningful social impact. The collaboration brought together diverse talents from Kenya and Germany, underscoring the power of cross-cultural partnerships.

NAWI demonstrates the transformative potential of combining education, creativity, and advocacy. It encourages others to consider storytelling as a means to address pressing social issues and highlights the importance of fostering local talent to bring authentic narratives to life.

Find out more about the film here.