Sesame Workshop Debuts Ahlan Simsim, The New Children’s Show, Across MENA

(MENAFN- PR Newswire) New Muppet Characters Join Familiar Friends Elmo, Cookie Monster and Grover in an Engaging Show that Promotes Vital Social-Emotional Learning for Young Children

(January 22, 2020 — PR Newswire, Amman, Jordan) — From the creators of Iftah Ya Simsim and beloved Sesame Street shows around the world comes Ahlan Simsim, a brand-new children's show premiering February 2 on MBC3, YouTube, and local broadcast channels across the Middle East.

Specially designed for children ages 3-8, Ahlan Simsim features familiar Muppet friends Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Grover, as well as two brand-new characters. Basma, an almost-6-year-old purple Muppet, is a born performer who has a special ability to create music and sound effects, which comes in handy when she can''t quite express herself in words. Basma's new best friend is a yellow-furred Muppet named Jad, who recently arrived in the neighborhood. He loves to express himself through art and can paint in midair with his grandfather's special paintbrush.

Each episode of Ahlan Simsim follows Basma and Jad as they explore their world alongside trusted adults, animated characters, and friends like a lovable and mischievous baby goat named Ma''zooza, who eats everything in sight. Designed in close collaboration with regional and international education experts, Ahlan Simsim presents a social-emotional curriculum, modeling for children how to manage big feelings. The first half of each episode is a comedic story segment, during which Basma and Jad experience emotions in situations relatable to all young children, like fear of the dark during a movie night and frustration when friends don''t play by the rules of a game. Each time, Basma and Jad learn how to identify and manage their feelings by practicing concrete strategies such as counting to five, belly breathing, and expression through art. Research shows that these ''emotional ABCs'' form a crucial developmental foundation for young children that supports their success in school and life.

The fun continues in the second half of each episode during a variety show segment, when real kids from across the region and celebrity guests including Darin Al Bayed, Sawsan Bader, and Wissam Sabbagh join the characters for games, songs, and conversation that reinforce the episode's educational content.

Sesame Workshop has a long history of making groundbreaking, educational, Arabic-language children's content in the Middle East and North Africa. Children have been laughing and learning alongside Sesame's Muppet characters for 40 years: Iftah Ya Simsim premiered in Kuwait in 1979, followed by local versions of Sesame Street in Egypt, Jordan, and Palestine. Produced in Amman with Jordan Pioneers, the new Ahlan Simsim show is brought to life by a team of writers, producers, and performers from across the Middle East and North Africa.

''From Iftah Ya Simsim to Alam Simsim to Hikayat Simsim, Sesame's Muppet characters have entertained, educated, and inspired families in the Middle East for decades,'' said Khaled Haddad, Founder of Jordan Pioneers Production Company and Executive Producer of Ahlan Simsim. ''We are excited to bring Ahlan Simsim to life and introduce this new Simsim for a new generation of children across the region.''

''We are proud to collaborate with regional experts to create Ahlan Simsim, which offers engaging, culturally relevant storylines and characters that children can relate to,'' said Sherrie Westin, President of Social Impact & Philanthropy, Sesame Workshop. ''At Sesame Workshop, we know the power of media and Muppets to transform lives, and we are honored to share this new program that will provide playful learning to millions of children across the Middle East.''

The new Ahlan Simsim show is part of a broader humanitarian initiative of the same name. The Ahlan Simsim program is a unique partnership between Sesame Workshop and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) that delivers early learning and nurturing care to children and caregivers affected by the Syrian conflict. Through the Ahlan Simsim TV show and in-person direct services across Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, this program reaches families wherever they are—from classrooms and health clinics to TV and mobile devices—with the vital educational resources that they need to thrive. This program, generously funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the LEGO Foundation, not only addresses immediate needs and builds a strong foundation for future wellbeing, but also has the potential to transform how the humanitarian system responds to displacement crises around the world.

Starting February 2, Ahlan Simsim will be broadcast daily in 20 countries across MENA. New episodes will air on MBC3 at 1:30pm (KSA) Sunday to Thursday, as well as on local stations across the region. Full episodes and bonus content will also be available on the Ahlan Simsim YouTube channel.

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About Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, the pioneering television show that has been reaching and teaching children since 1969. Today, Sesame Workshop is an innovative force for change, with a mission to help kids everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. We''re present in more than 150 countries, serving vulnerable children through a wide range of media, formal education, and philanthropically-funded social impact programs, each grounded in rigorous research and tailored to the needs and cultures of the communities we serve. For more information, please visit www.sesameworkshop.org.

For more information, please contact:
M&C Saatchi Public Relations

+971 (0) 50 312 8532

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