1. How Sesame Workshop is Working to Promote the Intellectual and Cultural Development of Children Around the World
An innovative method of applying and integrating expertise in production, in educational content, and in research
Effective for more than 36 years with evident benefits for children around the world
Experimental Approach
For: Interamerican Workshop “The role of arts and communications media in education for a democratic citizenship”
Santo Domingo, June 16-18,2010

2. LARGEST INFORMAL EDUCATOR OF CHILDREN IN THE WORLD
Our co-productions benefit more children in more countries across more cultures than any single children’s program in history.
Poland 1996
Sweden 1981
Norway 1991
Russia 1996
Canada 1973
The Netherlands 1976
Kosovo 2004
N. Ireland 2008
Turkey 1989
Germany 1973
France 1978
China 1998
Japan 2003
United States 1969
Portugal 1989
Israel 1983
Bangladesh 2005
Spain 1979
W.B./Gaza 2007
Jordan 2007
Mexico 1972
Egypt 2000
Kuwait 1979
India 2006
146 countries
Colombia 2007
Nigeria 2007
Philippines 1983
Indonesia 2008
Tanzania 2007
Brazil 2007
South Africa 1998
Australia 2004 2

3. Meeting local educational needs
Bangladesh:
Girls’ Education
Basic Skills
Critical Thinking
Egypt:
Health
Mexico:
Health, Safety, Nutrition
Environment
Gender Equity
Literacy
Northern Ireland:
Mutual Respect & Understanding
Palestine:
Self Esteem
Boys’ Empowerment
Russia:
Diversity
Preparation for Life in an Open Society
South Africa:
Literacy, Numeracy, & Life Skills
HIV/ AIDS
SUPPORT THE UNITED NATIONS MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Achieve universal primary education
Promote gender equality and empower women
Reduce child mortality
Improve maternal health
Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Ensure environmental sustainability
Develop a global partnership for development
Whenever we start a new coproduction our process starts with formative and participatory research that collects information and views from local experts from a variety perspectives including child development, education, children’s media, and policy, among others. We then convene these local experts to a curriculum seminar where together we develop the educational goals for the show. The educational goals and curriculum that come out of this process then informs our production and outreach processes (from script writing, to educational material development, to production considerations).
Research shows the educational importance of children of different backgrounds being able to see themselves and their culture portrayed on the screen in a positive light. So wherever we develop co-productions our aim to develop contents, characters, and a street that children from that country, with different backgrounds, and conditions can identify with.

4. ACHIEVING MAXIMUM REACH and IMPACT
Mass Reach TV
Radio
PR & Advocacy
On-Product Messaging
Alternative Broadcast (EDUSAT)
Low Technology
High Technology
Digital Initiatives
Print
Alternative Visual Media
Community Viewing
We use comprehensive strategies across multiple platforms that address both reach and impact, tailored to country-specific conditions
Delivery mechanisms – across two dimensions (scale of technology and scale of reach)
Training & Child Care Center Initiatives
Community

5. International Impact: Evidence from Research
Bangladesh
EXPOSURE TO SESAME STREET IS LINKED TO:
Gains in literacy & math
Bangladesh [ACPR, 2007, see graph)
India [GyanVriksh, 2008]
Mexico [SEP, 1999]
Russia [Ulitsa Sezam Res Team, 1998]
Promoting Respect & Understanding across Cultural Divides
Kosovo [Fluent, 2007]
Israel/Palestine [IJBD, 2002]
Increased health knowledge
Egypt [SPAAC, 2002]
Colombia (Mt. Sinai, 2010)
Mexico (CINCO, 2009)
Changes in knowledge and attitudes about HIV/AIDS
South Africa [Khulisa, 2005]
Tanzania [Borzekowski & Macha, 2009]
Gains in knowledge about malaria prevention and care
Tanzania [Borzekowski & Macha, 2009, see graph]
South Africa
Basic knowledge
Blood Safety
De-Stigmatization
Coping with Illness
Tanzania

6. Meet children where they are – developmental, cultural, geographical
Some Lessons Learned
Meet children where they are – developmental, cultural, geographical
Balance between entertaining and educational
Important role of teachers and caregivers / of quality child appropriate contents and messaging
Recognizing limitations and strengths of different types of media platforms and leveraging synergies across platforms.
Let the setting decide what type of media, activities, and distribution mechanisms are appropriate.
Importance of developing partnerships with local institutions and experts coupled with international spaces for dialogue, knowledge-sharing and capacity-building
Importance of integrating research (different forms) and ongoing monitoring and feedback mechanisms into the process

7. THANK YOU