Ahlan Simsim Initiative
Bringing vital early education to children affected by conflict and crisis in the Syrian response region.
Ahlan Simsim is a transformational program from Sesame Workshop and the International Rescue Committee that integrates direct services for families affected by conflict and crisis with engaging educational media.
Ahlan Simsim is reaching children wherever they are — from classrooms, to health clinics and learning centers, to TVs and mobile devices.
Millions have been reached through Ahlan Simsim—more than 3 million children and caregivers in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria through direct services for families and 27 million more through the award-winning locally produced Arabic-language version of Sesame Street airing across the Middle East and North Africa.
Made possible by a landmark $100 million grant from the MacArthur Foundation and additional support from the LEGO Foundation, Ahlan Simsim is transforming the way children are served in conflict and crisis.
Trusted Words from a Trusted Messenger
Since Sesame Workshop’s inception, formative research has been at the heart of our approach. When we wanted to reach caregivers with important information and model behaviors to help them support their children’s social-emotional development, we turned to research to help us understand who the most trusted messengers would be. We knew that if parents and caregivers didn’t trust the messenger, they wouldn’t engage in the first place.
Through our research, we learned that parents felt that an effective, trusted messenger must appeal to children, even if the video is for parents. We learned that the messenger must make direct eye contact and engage in positive, encouraging body language. And we even learned that a messenger in casual, joyful, and colorful clothing made a difference.
Sesame Workshop and the International Rescue Committee launched Ahlan Simsim in 2018 to address a humanitarian crisis: a generation of children raised amidst conflict, with limited access to early childhood learning and development opportunities. Another goal was to share our research and findings. Now, NYU has released the results of three landmark studies, with good news for children.
Lessons and Impacts of the Ahlan Simsim TV Program
A study in pre-primary classrooms in Jordan on children’s emotional development.
Effects of Remote Early Childhood Education
A study conducted with families in hard-to-access settings in Lebanon.
An Evaluation of a Phone-Based Parenting Program
A study with Syrian and Jordanian Families with Young Children
Meet Ameera, Sesame Workshop’s Newest Muppet Friend
An eight-year-old Muppet who uses a wheelchair and crutches to get around, Ameera is a natural leader with a great sense of humor and a passion for science and basketball.
Ameera made her debut on Ahlan Simsim and also stars in globally tested animations designed to quickly deliver playful learning to children affected by conflict and crisis. With her signature humor and love of learning, we know that Ameera will inspire young viewers worldwide to be curious and confident.
92% of Caregivers
Reported that their children learned to apply the “Stop, Notice, Think” strategy to help them regulate their emotions, empathize with others, and overcome challenges.
