MacArthur Grant Will Create ‘Sesame Street’ for Syrian Refugees<br />Though billions of dollars are spent on refugee aid each year, just 2 percent goes toward education, and just a sliver of<br />that goes toward early-childhood intervention, David Miliband, president of the International Rescue Committee, said in an interview on Thursday.<br />Sesame Workshop also broadcasts "Iftah Ya Simsim," which translates as "Open Sesame," in the Persian Gulf,<br />and has worked in Jordan, Egypt, Palestine, Israel and Turkey.<br />The five-year grant will fund a localized version of "Sesame Street," distributed through television<br />and digital devices, and home visits using "Sesame Street" content for an estimated 1.5 million children.<br />always from a child’s perspective." Ms. Westin said having characters<br />that children can relate to makes the children more receptive to the lessons. that model inclusion and respect, and gender equity, and they will provide engaging educational messages,<br />The MacArthur Foundation said Wednesday that it was awarding $100 million to Sesame Workshop<br />and the International Rescue Committee to create early childhood development programs for Syrian refugees.<br />While the grant would create the first "Sesame Street" expansion to be focused on refugees,<br />Sesame Workshop has created local versions in India, Afghanistan and South Africa.
