Aisha’s Story: Holding on to her education

THE BRIEF

In north-west Nigeria, violence has forced thousands of families to flee, and girls are often the first to lose their place in the classroom.

UNICEF needed to move past statistics and bring this reality into focus, through the story of one girl determined not to let conflict take her education from her.

THE CREATIVE

Working closely with UNICEF’s teams on the ground, we travelled to a resettled community in north-west Nigeria to tell the story of Aisha, a ten-year-old girl who fled a violent raid on her village and found refuge with her grandmother. We built the film around Aisha’s own words, working with a translator to keep her voice truthful and unfiltered.
Rather than narration or dramatic framing, we let quiet, observational moments carry the story: a glance between Aisha and her grandmother, the rhythm of daily chores, the return to schoolbooks. Every decision, from who was present during filming to how questions were asked, was shaped around protecting Aisha’s dignity while staying true to what she had lived through.

THE CASE STUDY

THE IMPACT

Screened at UNICEF events, the film has struck a chord with every audience it’s reached, moving viewers to tears and prompting long conversations about what protection and education really mean for displaced children. It has become a powerful advocacy tool internally, sharpening the case for the resources and policy attention that girls like Aisha need. Aisha’s courage now speaks for thousands of girls whose education hangs in the balance.

THE FILM

THE DETAILS