Ever since I wrote my post
on Foreign Aid that I found in Project Censored 2012, I've been
noticing how much the topic of Foreign Aid comes up. This morning after
my 8am class I started my Thursday morning routine, I get coffee, fire up the
computer, and read BBC News. Today I saw the articled "Puppet power as
Sesame Street arrives in Lahore" with a large picture of Elmo and the
puppet cast next to it. I had to read it!
The United States Agency
for International Development (USAID) has given $10 million dollars
to a four-year project that brings the show Sesame Street to Pakistan.
The government is hoping that the program will
teach lessons in tolerance and mutual respect to the target
audience, 4 to 8 year olds.
“This is a project being
created by Pakistani people, for Pakistani children. Our hope is that it will
be seen as a gift to children, something that is Pakistan’s own.” Says Charlotte Cole the Vice President of
International Education at Sesame Workshop.
The Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop Producers insisted that
the US did not write the script nor have any other involvement other
than funding. Making this a fully Pakistani production. Sesame Workshop
will be partnering with TOLOT TV and LEMAR TV, who are "the most potent
media for reaching the children in Afghanistan". (Sesame
Workshop). According to an article released by Sesame Workshop, there
are nearly 5 million children who are under 5 years old, and out of 5 million a
very small percentage of these children are educated in
a school, they hope that this program will make up for those unable to
attend school.
What the show will be like
 |
| Roni, the lead of the show |
The show will take pace in a
Pakistani Village with a tea-stall and Banyan tree and will
be called Baghch -e- Sinsin, that translates into Sesame Garden. Elmo is the only US Character that will
remain on the show. Other than Elmo, the rest of the characters of the show are
all new, the cast of Muppet characters include Billy the donkey who
wants to become a famous singer and the star of the show, Rani who is a six
year old girl with pigtails. "The creators hope the strong female
lead will send a message to the next generation in
this conservative society - especially girls."
The show will not only
teach children about tolerance, but also math, literacy, school readiness and
life skills, in particular on girls education, diversity and
cultural awareness. Faizan Peerzada,
the production company's Chief Executive Officer explained how
tolerance will be shown. “The child has to share a piece of bread with the
other, and he has to pay with the same toy. That’s the tolerance we are talking
about, and that tolerance will lead to all levels of tolerance." The show will also make sure to
cover minor religions, Allowing them to achieve a rounded education.
Photo Credits: Cast; Roni
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