DOHA: Education Above All Foundation (EAA), a global initiative of H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, presented French writer and director Pascal Plisson’s documentary On the Way to School (Sur le chemin de l’école) at the Ajyal Youth Film Festival yesterday.
It tells the story of children, united by the desire for an education, striving against extreme challenges to get to schools in remote locations in India, Kenya, Morocco and Patagonia, Argentina.
EAA has partnered with Doha Film Institute (DFI) to foster community awareness about the universal right to education and the plight of out-of- school children. As a sponsoring Friend of the Festival, EAA aims at harnessing the power of film to raise awareness among young people.
EAA CEO Marcio Barbosa said: “Seeing struggles children face to access education shows why we do what we do and what it means to these children. In our hearts and minds the film bridges the gap between our programmes and our beneficiaries and aligns with our vision to support access to education for all.”
DFI CEO Abdulaziz Al Khater said: “We are proud to be partnering with Education Above All to bring this inspiring film to audiences in Qatar. This moving documentary follows the lives of young heroes who confront and overcome dangerous obstacles on their way to the classroom — a reality faced by millions of youth across the globe. The film is bound to resonate with audiences and generate interest in this crucial issue.”
The film features four children living in challenging circumstances, who almost instinctively recognise that their survival depends on knowledge and education.
From the dangerous savannahs of Kenya to the winding trails of the Atlas mountains in Morocco, from the suffocating heat of Southern India to the vast plateau of Patagonia, they are united by the same quest.
The film interweaves stories of the children forced to confront and overcome countless, often dangerous, obstacles – enormous distances over treacherous territory, snakes, elephants and bandits – on their journey to the classroom. On the Way to School will have another screening at 7.15pm tonight at Katara, Theatre B.
The Peninsula
