Vinny, a young boy, is born into poverty and faces tremendous difficulties in his early life. After a tough early childhood, he is estranged from his mother and fights for his survival. He begins working for a 'sweetie van' far away from his own village, and travels down the path that changes the course of his life.

When the 'sweetie van' that Vinny is keeping watch over is stolen, he is left abandoned in the city zoo, and is forced to live in his new surroundings. He befriends the lion, Mousa, and has a revealing dreamin which he experiences the lion's memory of Africa. This stange and powerful ability allows Vinny to learn from the animals throughout the zoo, slipping away into distant lands and seeing things he'd never imagined. The dream world is magnificent, but when Vinny is awake, his plight is all to real.

Struggling to get through his days, Vinny realizes that he can't simply escape into his dreams if he wants meaningful change in his life. And through his experiences transform him, he refuses to let hardship define him.

When the people around Vinny begin to recognize his extraordinary abilities, their acceptance finally provides hope for a better future.