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Meet Espoir.
His name means “hope.”
In Dzaleka Refugee Camp, where life is often defined by uncertainty and waiting, that word carries weight.

Espoir writes poetry about the things he sees and feels around him. The frustration of growing up in a place with few opportunities. The strength it takes to keep imagining a future beyond the camp.
Through spoken word, he turns those thoughts into rhythm and voice.

In We Name Ourselves, we witness how poetry becomes a space where Espoir can speak freely about his reality. Each verse is both personal and shared. His words reflect the experiences of many young people who are learning how to hold on to hope while facing difficult circumstances.

For Espoir, poetry is a way to look forward. A way to insist that his story is still unfolding.

Meet Nyota.
Her name means “shining star.”

In a place where daily life is shaped by waiting, uncertainty, and limited opportunities, Nyota writes.

Her words speak about being young, about being a girl, and about refusing to disappear into silence.

We follow her as she prepares to perform at the Tumaini Festival. When the day finally comes, she steps onto the stage in front of thousands. The crowd grows quiet. Every word lands…

For Nyota, poetry is not simply performance. It is a form of advocacy. Through spoken word she claims dignity, visibility and make her communities questions and demands be heard.

This is one of the young poets at the heart of our film "We Name Ourselves".

Spoken word travels fast here. From one person to another. From older poets to younger ones. From phones and notebooks into shared space.

It is how experience moves through the community. How emotions are named. How frustrations, humor, and hope are carried without needing translation.
These voices are not asking to be rescued. They are asking to be heard on their own terms.

Listening is an active choice. This film begins there.