Sesame Street has just turned half a century old. The anniversary of its American matrix, a global brand present in more than 150 countries, coincides with the birth of its last creature: Ahlan Simsim ( Welcome Sesame , in Arabic). A television program aimed at healing the wounds that nine years of conflict have left in the Middle East's childhood .
"The main objective of 'Ahlan Simsim' is to regain hope and offer early learning and attention to children and their caregivers, affected by displacement in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, " admits EL MUNDO María del Sol Prieto, Deputy Project Director of the NGO International Rescue Committee in Jordan.
His irruption incorporates three new characters into the successful Sesame universe : Basma , six years old and purple skin who loves to sing, dance and create music and sound effects, and who is always willing to embark on a new adventure; Jad , about to turn six and yellow, who has just arrived in the neighborhood and has a special ability to paint in the air with a brush that his grandfather gave him and reminds him of his origins; and Ma'zooza , a baby goat that follows Basma and Jadallá, where they go and whose hobby is to ingest everything that has a circle shape.
With the Cookie and Coconut Monster
«The three will undertake exciting adventures in the neighborhood together. With the help of human and animated characters, such as Cookie Monster, Elmo or Coco, they will learn all about feelings and how to handle them through strategies such as counting to five and doing abdominal breathing, ”says Scott Cameron, executive producer of the space. " This emotional alphabet is especially important for children who have experienced the trauma of war and exodus, as is the case," he adds.
The audiovisual production, whose premiere is scheduled for next February on local televisions, platforms and YouTube, is born from the collaboration of the American NGO, created at the initiative of Albert Einstein in 1933, and Sesame Workshop , the non-profit organization that It is behind the international phenomenon of Sesame Street. “It is a response to the conflict still in force in Syria that has already displaced 12 million people. Nearly half of them are children and the most precious years of their lives for training have been marked by chaos and violence, ”acknowledges Prieto. The program is funded by a $ 100 million grant granted by the MacArthur Foundation and an additional investment from the Lego Foundation . The University of New York has also participated in its preparation, which investigates the impact of reversing the effects of trauma in early childhood.
Between Lebanon and Jordan
"The production has been carried out from Amman with the support of a local team, including puppeteers and writers from all over the region," Cailey Cron explains to this newspaper, in charge of communication at Sesame Workshop. The idea was taking shape throughout 2018 in work sessions held between Lebanon and Jordan. The characters, stories and songs were created based on the contribution of psychologists, linguists, writers, childhood specialists and NGO employees . «My favorite part of the process is when the characters come to life and stop being puppets. That happened in our study in Amman, ”Cameron recalls.
The first season is intended for that population forced to be a nomad who lives in refugee camps or within the walls of other people's homes. «We know that adversities and trauma have serious effects on the mental development of a child. The basic cerebral architecture is constructed during the first years of childhood and, during this time, severe stress and the absence of stable care can lead to toxic stress , damaging the biological and neurological systems, ”warns Prieto. Sesame Street , which first landed in the region in 1979, has educated entire generations around the world on issues as diverse as hunger, racism, gender equality or AIDS.
Now, its creators face the challenge of healing the wounds that opened a conflict that has reaped more than half a million lives. «This program will help children develop their social and emotional skills to overcome the challenges they face. They will learn how to understand and manage their feelings, empathize with others, respect and appreciate diversity and be more resilient, ”predicts Prieto. " Ahlan Simsim tries to help children learn, feel more connected and give them a reason to smile," Cameron concludes.
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
Know more- Syria
Mira De Brenda to Dr. Sweets: the real reasons why these series characters died
Solidarity The NGO that 'rescues' the leftover food from the restaurant and distributes it to those who need it
Crimes From Marta del Castillo to Marta Calvo: history of a strategy