Sesame Street in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland All children deserve a chance to learn and Sesame Street inNorthernIreland: grow, to be prepared for school, to understand AMedia Project toPromote the world and their place in it, to dream, Respect and Understanding discover, and reach their highest potential.

Background About Sesame Workshop As Northern Ireland looks forward to a more optimistic Sesame Workshop is a nonprofit future based on a shared vision, Sesame Workshop — the Small Beginnings, Profound Possibilities For more information, contact: organization of writers, artists, nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street — is proud Sesame Workshop’s experience over the better part of Shari Rosenfeld researchers, and educators. Best known to contribute to an atmosphere of renewed hope through for Sesame Street, we create innovative four decades teaches us that small things – a hand puppet, International Strategies Group [email protected] a local version of its flagship series. and engaging educational content for a kind word, a song – can make a big difference. It makes Telephone: 212.875.6384 Goals children from birth through age 12 in clear that small beginnings have profound possibilities, over 120 countries worldwide. Sesame Designed for children ages 3-6, Sesame Tree, Northern especially when their effects are multiplied by a global Workshop initiatives encompass the Ireland’s version of Sesame Street, will present engaging community committed to making meaningful, measurable, entire range of children’s developmental educational messages through stories and characters lasting differences in children’s lives, now and for needs – from ABCs and 123s; to life keyed to the new Northern Ireland National Curriculum. generations to come. lessons about health, safety and coping The series will help to develop children’s self-esteem, love with loss; to social skills such as respect

Sesame Workshop®, Sesame Street® and international Sesame Street coproductions, and all associated of learning, openness, and curiosity about others to and sharing. characters, trademarks, and design elements are owned and licensed by Sesame Workshop. © 2007 better prepare them for a brighter future. The program Sesame Workshop. All Rights Reserved. In countries across the globe, our unique will also serve as a valuable resource for children, parents August 2007. approach brings together local experts to and educators by: determine educational goals based on the Presenting positive images to children of the self and specific needs of children in a particular country. This ensures that Sesame others; Workshop programs are both culturally Emphasizing a range of objectives including valuing relevant and educationally sound. diversity, developing problem solving skills, and Workshop programs and initiatives are delivered through a variety of media becoming aware of our common humanity; including television, home video, radio, Helping the early childhood community in Northern film, books and magazines, the Internet, Ireland achieve its strategic goals. and community outreach programs.

BARRIO SÉSAMO SPAIN RUSSIA TAKALANI SESAME SOUTH AFRICA CHINA SESAME STREET USA PALESTINE RUA SÉSAMO PORTUGAL ULICA BARRIO SÉSAMO SPAIN RUSSIA TAKALANI SESAME SOUTH AFRICA CHINA SESAME STREET USA PALESTINE RUA SÉSAMO PORTUGAL ULICA 5, RUE SÉSAME FRANCE SESAME PARK CANADA VILA SESAMO BRAZIL BARRIO SÉSAMO SPAIN RUSSIA TAKALANI SESAME SOUTH AFRICA CHINA SESAME 5, RUE SÉSAME FRANCE SESAME PARK CANADA VILA SESAMO BRAZIL BARRIO SÉSAMO SPAIN RUSSIA TAKALANI SESAME SOUTH AFRICA CHINA SESAME PLAZA SÉSAMO MEXICO SESAMSTRAAT HOLLAND SESAMSTRASSE GERMANY 5, RUE SÉSAME FRANCE SESAME PARK CANADA VILA SESAMO BRAZIL BARRIO SÉSAMO SPAIN PLAZA SÉSAMO MEXICO SESAMSTRAAT HOLLAND SESAMSTRASSE GERMANY 5, RUE SÉSAME FRANCE SESAME PARK CANADA VILA SESAMO BRAZIL BARRIO SÉSAMO SPAIN Online Funding for the series is provided by the Sesame Workshop is working closely with the International Fund for Ireland, which BBC-Northern Ireland online team to build an promotes integration and reconciliation for Unique Approach original Sesame Tree website. This site will Northern Ireland and the border counties; Sesame Workshop’s unique approach to edu- help extend the engaging and educational American Ireland Fund, which serves as the cational media brings local educators, content messages from the TV program. project’s anchor sponsor; and the Northern specialists, producers, and creative talent to Ireland Fund for Reconciliation, which address children’s needs in a culturally Educational Outreach provides support for projects that promote relevant context. As with all of the Workshop’s Sesame Workshop and NIPPA, a children’s reconciliation through community local adaptations, Sesame Tree will be educational outreach organization, plan to development and education. informed by and truly reflect the issues of the work together to initiate community region. Along with the familiar faces of Elmo outreach and provide educational materials and Cookie Monster, Sesame Tree viewers will to be distributed in preschools throughout meet new Muppets created specifically for Northern Ireland. Targeted to parents, Northern Ireland. Children from different caregivers, teachers, and children, these communities will be introduced to their peers initiatives will complement and deepen the through locally produced live action films project’s educational messages. which will explore the many places and faces of Sesame Tree Project Elements P artnerships and Support Northern Ireland. Television Sesame Tree enjoys a broad base of support Sesame Street programming has a successful The first season launches in February 2008 across many sectors of society, which will play history of addressing locally identified issues. with 20 original fifteen-minute episodes a critical role in the project’s overall success. In 2002, Takalani Sesame, South Africa’s airing on the BBC-Northern Ireland. Targeted The BBC-Northern Ireland will broadcast the production of Sesame Street, introduced a to children aged three to six, Sesame Tree series and develop the website. SixteenSouth, character named Kami, a Muppet who is HIV will star the monster, Potto, and the Irish part of The Inferno Group, a leading and award- positive, to help bring to light the issues hare, Hilda, who live, work, and play inside winning creative television production and surrounding HIV/AIDS. In 2003, Germany’s the trunk of the Question Tree. In each facilities house, has been selected to produce Sesamstrasse launched a new content area to episode Potto and Hilda, along with their Sesame Tree. We also plan to partner with foster respect and understanding among friends the Bookworms, the Weatherberries, NIPPA to develop and distribute educational Germany’s increasingly diverse population. and the bird Claribelle, seek the answer to a outreach materials supporting the project In 2005, Plaza Sésamo in Mexico launched its question which a child has posted to the through their vast distribution networks. Healthy Habits for Life initiative to encourage magical tree. Questions will be investigated good nutrition and exercise in a country where through segments featuring a diverse range obesity is becoming a health concern. In 2007, of children from across Northern Ireland, Sesame Workshop, together with local international live action segments from partners, will reintroduce Vila Sésamo in Brazil Sesame Workshop’s extensive international to help lay the foundation for school-readiness library, and visits with beloved Sesame Street in a country where large numbers of children Muppets like Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster, lack access to formal preschool education. and Elmo.

BARRIO SÉSAMO SPAIN RUSSIA TAKALANI SESAME SOUTH AFRICA CHINA SESAME STREET USA PALESTINE RUA SÉSAMO PORTUGAL ULICA SEZAMKOWA POLAND EGYPT SHARA’A SIMSIM PALESTINE SESAM STASJON NORWAY PLAZA SÉSAMO MEXICO SESAMSTRAAT HOLLAND SESAMSTRASSE GERMANY 5, RUE SÉSAME FRANCE SESAME PARK CANADA VILA SESAMO BRAZIL BARRIO SÉSAMO SPAIN RUSSIA TAKALANI SESAME SOUTH AFRICA CHINA SESAME STREET USA PALESTINE RUA SÉSAMO PORTUGAL ULICA SEZAMKOWA POLAND EGYPT SHARA’A SIMSIM PALESTINE SESAM STASJON NORWAY PLAZA SÉSAMO MEXICO SESAMSTRAAT HOLLAND SESAMSTRASSE GERMANY 5, RUE SÉSAME FRANCE SESAME PARK CANADA VILA SESAMO BRAZIL BARRIO SÉSAMO SPAIN RUSSIA TAKALANI SESAME SOUTH AFRICA CHINA SESAME STREET USA PALESTINE RUA SÉSAMO PORTUGAL ULICA SEZAMKOWA POLAND Online Funding for the series is provided by the Sesame Workshop is working closely with the International Fund for Ireland, which BBC-Northern Ireland online team to build an promotes integration and reconciliation for Unique Approach original Sesame Tree website. This site will Northern Ireland and the border counties; Sesame Workshop’s unique approach to edu- help extend the engaging and educational American Ireland Fund, which serves as the cational media brings local educators, content messages from the TV program. project’s anchor sponsor; and the Northern specialists, producers, and creative talent to Ireland Fund for Reconciliation, which address children’s needs in a culturally Educational Outreach provides support for projects that promote relevant context. As with all of the Workshop’s Sesame Workshop and NIPPA, a children’s reconciliation through community local adaptations, Sesame Tree will be educational outreach organization, plan to development and education. informed by and truly reflect the issues of the work together to initiate community region. Along with the familiar faces of Elmo outreach and provide educational materials and Cookie Monster, Sesame Tree viewers will to be distributed in preschools throughout meet new Muppets created specifically for Northern Ireland. Targeted to parents, Northern Ireland. Children from different caregivers, teachers, and children, these communities will be introduced to their peers initiatives will complement and deepen the through locally produced live action films project’s educational messages. which will explore the many places and faces of Sesame Tree Project Elements P artnerships and Support Northern Ireland. Television Sesame Tree enjoys a broad base of support Sesame Street programming has a successful The first season launches in February 2008 across many sectors of society, which will play history of addressing locally identified issues. with 20 original fifteen-minute episodes a critical role in the project’s overall success. In 2002, Takalani Sesame, South Africa’s airing on the BBC-Northern Ireland. Targeted The BBC-Northern Ireland will broadcast the production of Sesame Street, introduced a to children aged three to six, Sesame Tree series and develop the website. SixteenSouth, character named Kami, a Muppet who is HIV will star the monster, Potto, and the Irish part of The Inferno Group, a leading and award- positive, to help bring to light the issues hare, Hilda, who live, work, and play inside winning creative television production and surrounding HIV/AIDS. In 2003, Germany’s the trunk of the Question Tree. In each facilities house, has been selected to produce Sesamstrasse launched a new content area to episode Potto and Hilda, along with their Sesame Tree. We also plan to partner with foster respect and understanding among friends the Bookworms, the Weatherberries, NIPPA to develop and distribute educational Germany’s increasingly diverse population. and the bird Claribelle, seek the answer to a outreach materials supporting the project In 2005, Plaza Sésamo in Mexico launched its question which a child has posted to the through their vast distribution networks. Healthy Habits for Life initiative to encourage magical tree. Questions will be investigated good nutrition and exercise in a country where through segments featuring a diverse range obesity is becoming a health concern. In 2007, of children from across Northern Ireland, Sesame Workshop, together with local international live action segments from partners, will reintroduce Vila Sésamo in Brazil Sesame Workshop’s extensive international to help lay the foundation for school-readiness library, and visits with beloved Sesame Street in a country where large numbers of children Muppets like Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster, lack access to formal preschool education. and Elmo.