Ahlan Simsim: Bringing hope and opportunity

to children affected by conflict and crisis.

Sesame Workshop and the International Rescue Committee (IRC)
are implementing the largest-scale early childhood intervention
in the history of humanitarian response.
Since 2011, the ongoing conflict in Syria has displaced To address this humanitarian crisis, Sesame Workshop
over 12 million people. Nearly half are children, and the and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) joined to
most formative years of their lives have been marked by create Ahlan Simsim (“Welcome Sesame” in Arabic), a
upheaval, chaos, and violence. Displaced children across program that delivers early learning and nurturing care
the region—and millions more in host communities—do to children and caregivers affected by displacement in
not have access to the early learning opportunities that Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
are critical to their healthy development and wellbeing. Through a brand-new, Arabic-language local version
of Sesame Street combined with in-person direct services,
Ahlan Simsim reaches displaced and host community
families wherever they are—from TV and mobile
devices to classrooms and health clinics—with the vital
Syria
educational resources that they need in order to thrive.
Lebanon Launched by a groundbreaking $100 million
Iraq grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur
Foundation and with additional support from the
LEGO Foundation, Ahlan Simsim is elevating awareness,
engaging policymakers, spearheading research, and
Jordan
increasing investment in early childhood development
(ECD) in crisis settings.

Ahlan Simsim has the potential to transform humanitarian response,

benefitting children affected by conflict around the world.
 A S S M E DI A RES
E ARC H
M
Ahlan Simsim combines mass media and
direct services to reach children and families
wherever they are with engaging educational
Featuring original Muppet content, play-based learning opportunities, We will double the existing
characters and storylines and support for parents and caregivers. evidence base about which
early childhood interventions
languages, and experiences — the are most effective in crisis settings.
Ahlan Simsim show is reaching millions of The research is conducted by our
children and caregivers across the region external evaluator, NYU Global TIES for
will with fun, laughter, and learning. Children Center.

S E R VI VOC AC Y
EC T CE AD
IR
D

S
Direct services infused with joyful Fueled by program experience
content are delivered through IRC’s and research, we are advocating
network of ECD centers, home visit, for prioritization of interventions
and remote outreach programs. We will that address the needs of young children
reach over one million children and families
with early education and caregiving support. around the world.

With additional investment, we can bring early learning

and nurturing care to children who need it most.
With $1 million With $5 million With $10 million
Sesame Workshop could create Sesame Workshop could create Sesame Workshop and its partners
a suite of original multi-media a brand-new season of Ahlan could expand Ahlan Simsim to a
Simsim that would include new new country or region including
designed to support young educational storylines featuring new content creation, expanded
children and their caregivers, our beloved characters as well direct services, research and
featuring our familiar and beloved as new learning segments and advocacy to reach more families
Ahlan Simsim characters, Basma, content elements, for distribution
Jad and Ma’zooza, for distribution via mass media and though our early education and development
via mass media and though our partners’ direct services programs. services, wherever they are.
partners’ direct services programs.

This is just the beginning.

Together, we have the potential to transform how the world
addresses the needs of children, wherever they may be.

For more information about Sesame Workshop visit www.sesameworkshop.org

Contact: Sarah Chasin, [email protected]