Filmmaker Rawia Alhag with Lokain and Wilson
Lokain and Wilson are two young Sudanese best friends and former street children who, aged 10 and 11 at the time, are two of the four central figures featured in the acclaimed Sudanese documentary Khartoum (2025).
In the film, the boys are seen riding a donkey cart and scavenging for bottles in Khartoum’s dumps to earn money and survive on the city’s streets, embodying resilience and innocence amid Sudan’s turmoil.
Filmmaker Rawia Alhag, one of the five directors of Khartoum, closely followed Lokain (now 12) and Wilson (now 11) during filming. She later became their guardian, helping them find safety and access to education in Kenya after the outbreak of the ongoing war.
Their story, alongside those of other Khartoum residents, offers a poignant portrait of life, dreams, and resistance in the city before and during the devastating conflict that began in 2023, highlighting the filmmakers’ innovative storytelling approach.
Phil Cox, another director of Khartoum and a British filmmaker and journalist, launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to initially support Lokain’s and Wilson’s education and living costs in Kenya. At the boys’ request, the fundraiser has since expanded to support other street children and child bottle collectors. The open campaign now provides schooling, clothing, and additional assistance, with some funds also allocated to educational resources and teachers for Sudanese children.
For more information or to donate, visit gofundme.com/f/help-lokain-wilson-2-safety-education or khartoummovie.com/support.
Help fund independent free media in Sudan
In addition, the filmmakers launched a separate fundraiser to help support independent, free media in Sudan, specifically the Ayin Media Network. According to the Khartoum website: “This critical story has been silenced by armed actors. Journalists have been persecuted, and internet access has been shut down across much of the country. International media is not permitted to report freely. Despite this, independent media organisations like the Ayin Network have been tirelessly documenting and reporting on the war and humanitarian crisis.”
The website further notes that Ayin has trained and supported journalists across Sudan since 2013, including the directors of Khartoum. Despite severe funding cuts, the network continues to produce powerful documentaries and report for international media outlets such as The New York Times.
For more information or to donate, visit khartoummovie.com/support or 3ayin.com/en/donate.
