Panasonic nurtures next generation of reporters in India with Kid Witness News

Panasonic Life Solutions, the Tokyo-based diversified technology company, has launched its global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, Kids Witness News (KWN), in India.

KWN is a part of Panasonic’s efforts to support the development of the next generation, where the company provides professional video equipment to facilitate filmmaking by children. This initiative not only bolsters their creativity and communication skills but also promotes teamwork.

Launched in 1989 in the USA by Panasonic, KWN is an educational support program designed to engage children with the world around them. Japan joined the KWN initiative in 2003. Since then, the program has continued to grow internationally, featuring an annual global film contest that started in 2008, among other activities. In the 2019 contest alone, the program received entries from 3,800 children across 12 countries and regions, submitted by 315 schools.

Through the KWN program, Panasonic Life Solutions India aims to heighten awareness of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among elementary and secondary school students.

The company has partnered with five schools—Lancers International School, Heritage Xperiential Learning School, Shalom Hills International School, Lotus Valley International School, and Scottish High International School—in the Delhi NCR region.

Panasonic has already initiated workshops in these schools where "students are gaining skills in video production and journalism, creating videos that address community issues, environmental concerns, and social justice," according to Pooja Garg Khan, Head of Corporate Communications & CSR at Panasonic Life Solutions India.

From the submissions, one video will be selected to represent India at Panasonic’s KWN Global Summit, which is part of a worldwide contest scheduled later this year.