The Sesame Effect

The Sesame Effect details the wide-ranging work of Sesame Workshop and its productions across the world. With an emphasis on impact and evidence from research on projects in low- and middle-income countries, the book tells the stories behind the development of an international family of Muppet characters created for the locally produced adaptations of Sesame Street. Each chapter highlights the educational message of international co-productions and presents the cultural context of each project. Readers will understand the specific needs of children living in a given locale, as well as gain insight into the educational drivers of each project. These projects often deal with difficult issues, from race relations in the United States, to HIV/AIDS education in South Africa, to building respect across cultural divides in the Middle East. Readers will see how local productions have helped build a new mindset that values the importance of early childhood education, and how Sesame Street promotes a brighter future by building children's academic skills, encouraging healthy habits, and by fostering attitudes that counter negative stereotypes and create appreciation of and respect for others. The Sesame Effect shows how, when magnified across the millions of children touched by the various international programs, Sesame Workshop and its projects are making a difference around the world.

Edited by Cole, Charlotte F.; Lee, June H.

Foreword Joan Ganz Cooney Introduction Charlotte F. Cole and June H. Lee PART I: THE GLOBAL SESAME EFFECT 1. .29: The Global Sesame Effect Charlotte F. Cole 2. Measuring the Difference Charlotte F. Cole and June H. Lee PART II: MEETING CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL NEEDS 3. R is for Responsive: How Sesame Street Meets the Changing Needs of Children in the United States Jennifer A. Kotler, Rosemarie T. Truglio, and Jeanette Betancourt 4. How Sesame Workshop Promotes Early Childhood Education around the World June H. Lee, Yeh Hsueh, Muhammad Zuhdi, Shantimoy Chakma, Sayed Farhad Hashimi and Lilith Dollard 5. Feathered and Furry Health Communicators: The Sesame Street Approach to Child Health and Wellbeing in Egypt, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Beyond Abigail Bucuvalas, Zainab Kabba, Jean Baxen, Janice Fuld, and Ayobisi Osuntusa 6. Empowering Girls and Boys to be Life-Long Learners: Gender Equity Lessons from Sesame Street Programs in Egypt and Palestine Charlotte F. Cole, Alyaa Montasser, June H. Lee, Cairo Arafat, and Nada W. Elattar 7. Ripple Effects: Using Sesame Street to Bridge Group Divides in the Middle East, Kosovo, Northern Ireland, and Elsewhere Charlotte F. Cole and Lewis Bernstein PART III: A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE: COMMUNITY AND PARTNERSHIPS 8. Opening New Doors: Community Engagement in India Ameena Batada, Sashwati Banerjee, and Mathangi Subramanian 9. Building Relevance and Impact: Lessons of Sustainability from Plaza Sésamo in Mexico and Beyond Jorge Baxter Index