On the way to school - Sur le chemin de l'école

"Every child must be helped to develop his or her potential, whether in the furthest corner of the outback, the remotest mountains, or in our cities. The more challenging the environment, the more motivated the children are. Let's not deprive ourselves of these reservoirs of talents. If we give them a chance we will all be enriched."

Pascal Plisson (director)

Now thanks to my learned mother who made me aware of it, I can finally be ahead of times and talk about a cultural event that isn't over yet: On the way to school (Sur le chemin de l'école), a documentary directed by Pascal Plisson, out in France, Italy, Belgium and Switzerland since September, and in Germany on December, 5th.

It is a movie I very much look forward to see, from French director Pascal Plisson. It might touch me because I'm a teacher, because I love children, because I want to make a difference in their lives when given the opportunity. But I think this movie should touch everyone out there, because it tells a story of hope, of determination, of courage. It tells the story of five children across the world, each carrying a dream, each hoping to fulfill it through gaining knowledge.

Samuel (13), lives in Kuruthamaankadu, in India. He's disabled, and the only of three children who can read. When he grows up he wants to become a doctor in order to help disabled children. He is the only one at home able to read, and although school in India became compulsory in 2010; many families still can't afford it. Yet, with the help of his two brothers pushing his wheelchair, he crosses the forest in order to attend school.

Samuel and his brothers ©Wild Bunch 2013

Zahira (12) lives in the Atlas Mountains, in Morocco. Each Monday, she walks 22 km (4 hours) from her village to Asni's Education for all boarding school. She crosses mountains, sometimes in extreme conditions. On the last bit of the trip, she and some friends reach a highway on which they have to find a driver prepared to take them aboard, in order to reach school. She too wants to become a doctor to help the poor.

Carlito (11) lives in the plains of Patagonia, in Argentina. Every day of the week, he rides the family's horse with his six-year-old sister Micaela, in order to reach school 18km away. He lives in a happy family, and enjoy a simple life. He is committed to learn no matter the hardships of the road so that he can become a vet. 

Carlito and his little sister Micaela ©Wild Bunch 2013

Jackson (11), lives in Kenya. He belongs to the Sumburu tribe. School is 15km away from his home. In order to reach it, he has to face many dangers: armed gangs, aggressive elephants. Along with his six-year-old sister Salome, just like Carlito in Argentina, Jackson takes the same road towards knowledge every day. His good results secured him some grants, but each year he buys his own school material and uniform. He has never seen an airplane but dreams about becoming a pilot. He is determined that one day, he will see the world. 

Jackson and his sister Salome ©Wild Bunch 2013

For each child, attending school is an every day challenge. For most of us, most of people reading this now, school was a given. Has it ever been difficult for us to attend it? Yet knowledge is a gift, a tool which helped us to become who we are, helped us to find and define our place in the world; even, for some, to make it a better place. And these children are determined to go through whatever it takes, in order to have access to education, and later help their families and their people.