GLOBAL G IRLS ’ EDUCAT ION

“I want to be a journalist when I grow up.”

— Zari, Afghanistan

Big Dreams Sparked by Inspiring Girl MuppetsGlobally, 130 million girls are out of school.1 Gender equality has always been part of the fiber of Sesame Street. From our earliest days, we’ve worked to deliver early education to children across gender lines and socioeconomic classes. Today, with 130 million girls out of school, the need for empowering girls from a young age is stronger than ever—and Sesame has risen to the occasion. In more than 150 countries around the world, local Sesame Street programs are opening minds and doors, encouraging girls to dream big and gain the skills they need to succeed in school and in life.

Empowering girls is critically important, because they often face barriers that boys do not. Early marriage, gender discrimination, lack of adequate sanitation, and differences in how parents value educating girls and boys keep girls from starting or continuing school. The facts are shocking. Globally, there are 33 million fewer girls than boys in primary school2 , and in South and West Asia, 80 percent of out-of-school girls are unlikely to ever begin school, compared to just 16 percent of out-of-school boys.3

Educating girls advances entire families and communities: increased economic productivity, reduced poverty, and lowered infant mortality rates are just a few of the powerful outcomes.4

That’s why quality education and gender equality are two of the U.N.’s Global Goals for Sustainable Development—and we’re doing everything we can to align our programing with those goals. Investing in girls’ education isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s the smart thing to do for overall economic and social development.

From India to Mexico to Afghanistan—and in so many other countries—local versions of Sesame Street are teaching basic skills that are critical for both girls and boys, in a context that values women and girls and their contributions to society.

Afghanistan BAGHCH-E-SIMSIM Bangladesh SISIMPUR Brazil VILA SÉSAMO China BIG BIRD LOOKS AT THE WORLD Colombia PLAZA SÉSAMO Egypt ALAM SIMSIM India GALLI GALLI SIM SIM Indonesia JALAN SESAMA Israel RECHOV SUMSUM Mexico PLAZA SÉSAMO Nigeria SESAME SQUARE Northern Ireland SESAME TREE West Bank/Palestine SHARA’A SIMSIM South Africa TAKALANI SESAME Tanzania KILIMANI SESAME United States SESAME STREET

GLOBAL G IRLS ’ EDUCAT ION

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Our ApproachLocal versions of Sesame Street are designed to counter negative attitudes and the gender gaps that stem from girls’ limited educational opportunities. Full of strong female characters and inspiring messages, Sesame programs put girls’ empowerment center stage. Girls on the show take pride in their accomplishments, and know that—with work—they can pursue any profession.

Take the ever-curious Chamki, a Muppet from Galli Galli Sim Sim, the Indian version of Sesame Street. Chamki is thrilled to share what she loves about school: having lunch with friends, playing sports, and, of course, learning new things every day. Or the energetic Raya, who promotes health and cleanliness

and dreams of being a doctor when she grows up. Our characters are role models for viewers, inspiring them to dream big.

And these messages go beyond television. In our radio programs, print materials, community viewings, and other mediums reaching children in more remote parts of the world, girls demonstrate leadership and creativity.

Like in Afghanistan, where nearly 43% of primary school-age children are out of school—a rate that’s almost 20% higher for girls.5 Zari, the first local Muppet there, is a girl who just started school, enabling Afghan girls to see the classroom as a place where all children belong. Through the power of media, we’re reaching girls who may have no other means of quality education.

Our approach is about more than inspiring girls to learn and succeed—it’s also about addressing the role boys and men can play in creating change. Our programs depict both girls and boys wearing school uniforms, and illustrate that household and community responsibilities are not gender-specific. Just as we show women holding government offices, we model how boys can help around the house. Doing so breaks down gender

stereotypes, fostering the belief that girls and boys have equal rights and responsibilities—and that their achievements are equally valuable.

We know Sesame programs have actually changed fathers’ minds about allowing their daughters to attend school. One father from a remote Indian village says, “According to what I hear from the Sesame Street radio program, my girls need to continue their education. For them to be able to study, this can help the country.”

Sesame Muppets do so much more than help kids learn—they have the power to open minds, influence attitudes, and plant the seeds for long-term societal change.

Champions for changeOur girl Muppets have appeared on the world stage as advocates, raising awareness of the need for girls’ education. Zari met with the First Lady of Afghanistan, Chamki spoke at the Women Deliver global conference in Copenhagen, and Raya attended Global Citizen Festival in New York City, meeting with world leaders.

2xWhen you educate a girl, you educate an entire family. Educated mothers are more than twice as likely to send their children to school.6

GLOBAL G IRLS ’ EDUCAT ION

South Africa and Southern Africa: Kami is an HIV-positive Muppet who was orphaned after her mother died of an AIDS-related illness. She serves as a positive example for children in Sub-Saharan Africa. She’s well-informed about the disease and comfortable expressing the ways in which she copes with her illness.

Kami appears on Takalani Sesame, the South African version of Sesame Street, where she plays with other characters in a way that involves physical touch, sending a powerful message of acceptance. Kami’s confidence is also at the heart of Sesame Square, our program in Nigeria. Kami’s friend Zobi, a male Muppet on the show, reinforces that girls are equally capable of greatness, a fact underscored by visits to the show from real-life Nigerian heroines, including a female pilot and the singer, actress, and politician, Onyeka Owenu.

Afghanistan: Zari is a 6-year-old living on Baghch-e-Simsim in Afghanistan. She is kind and nurturing, with a sharp mind and a knack for asking questions.

Zari just began to attend school and is eager to learn new things, sing songs, play sports, and make up different games with her friends from the neighborhood.

Introducing girls to some inspiring role models

India: Chamki is a vibrant 5-year-old who lives on Galli Galli Sim Sim in India. She has a flair for language, building her vocabulary with new words, and creating clever tongue twisters.

Chamki is a problem solver, too, and puts these skills to use as the witty Detective Chamki. She serves as a bright and energetic role model for girls across India.

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Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia Raya is a smart and energetic 6-year-old who is Sesame’s Global Health Ambassador. She’s always very neat and clean because she pays special attention to hygiene!

Raya cares about keeping other kids healthy and won’t hesitate to tell you the importance of washing your hands, exercising or getting enough sleep.

Bangladesh: Tuktuki, a Muppet on Sisimpur, in Bangladesh, has an insatiable curiosity about the world.

Tuktuki comes from a low-income family and recently started attending school. She serves as an example to girls, demonstrating the potential of girls to excel—an important lesson in Bangladesh where two-thirds of the adults without basic literacy skills are women.7

GLOBAL G IRLS ’ EDUCAT ION

Afghanistan

Children who watch the Afghan version of Sesame Street test 29% higher on gender equity attitudes.8

In Afghanistan, where over 2 million children watch each month, Baghch-e-Simsim has a huge impact.9 In a small-scale study, we found that children who watched the show 3 times a week for 8 weeks in school made greater improvements in basic academic skills, gender equity attitudes, and understanding of emotions than those who did not watch.10

Families are also seeing an impact from Baghch-e-Simsim. In a focus group of Afghan parents who watched the show, the response was extremely positive. Viewers describe the show as both educational and entertaining, capturing the attention of children and delivering useful lessons, like improving their children’s grasp of the alphabet, numbers, colors, and concepts like self-confidence, decision-making, and emotions.

Participants say the show helped them better understand how to support children’s mental and emotional development. In some instances, children in the focus groups demonstrated a new or renewed interest in school after being exposed to the show. And in several cases, after watching the show, fathers were persuaded to permit their daughters to attend school—an excellent sign for children with a lifetime of opportunities ahead.

Bangladesh

Studies from projects in 15 countries (including South Africa, Tanzania, Bangladesh, and India) show that Sesame Street programs promote basic skills acquisition and early academic learning11 — both critical to education. In Bangladesh, more than 10.6 million children watch the Sisimpur television series12 —and a study of more than 6,000 children from urban and rural areas in Bangladesh found that viewing Sisimpur is linked to faster attainment of basic skills.13 Children with high exposure to the series performed on tests of literacy and math at the same level as non-viewers who were a year older. These findings were strongest for

children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds. Bangladeshi children who watch Sisimpur show faster attainment of academic skills essential to education, with literacy scores of 4-year-olds 67% higher than those who don’t watch.14 Sesame Street helps set children on a positive path toward lifelong learning.

To learn more about our girls’ education initiatives, please contact Shari Rosenfeld, Senior Vice President, International Social Impact, at shari.rosenfeld@sesame.org or + 212 875 6384.

ABOUT SESAME WORKSHOP

Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit media and 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 active 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 sesameworkshop.org.

REFERENCES1 UNESCO (2016) Leaving no one behind: How far on the way to universal primary and secondary education?

Retrieved from http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0024/002452/245238E.pdf2 Girl Rising (2013). Issue Fact Sheet: The Impact of Educating Girls. Retrieved from http://girlrising.com/assets/GR_

UE_FACT_SHEET_Impact_Educating_Girls-2.pdf 3 UNESCO (2015) Out-of-school children data release 2015. [data file]. Retrieved from http://data.uis.unesco.org4 UNICEF (2016) Girls’ Education and gender equality. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/education/

bege_70640.html 5 UNESCO (2011). Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age [data file]. Retrieved from

http://data.uis.unesco.org6 USAID (2014). Infographic: An educated girl has a ripple effect. Retrieved from https://www.usaid.gov/girl/

infographic-ripple-effect 7 Department of International Development (2009). “UKaid guarantees 600,000 children in Bangladesh an

education.” Press release.8 Glevum Associates. (2013). An impact assessment of Baghch-e-Simsim: A report on findings from a pilot

experimental study. Gloucester, MA: Glevum Associates.9 2016 Sesame Street International Research Study, other market research studies and 2016 International Census.10 Glevum Associates. (2013). An impact assessment of Baghch-e-Simsim: A report on findings from a pilot

experimental study. Gloucester, MA: Glevum Associates.11 Mares, M.L., & Pan, Z. (2013). Effects of Sesame Street: A meta-analysis of children’s learning in 15 countries.

Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 34, 140-151. doi: 10.1016/j.appdev.2013.01.00112 2016 Sesame Street International Reach Study, other market research studies and 2016 International Census13 Associates for Community and Population Research (ACPR). Dhaka, Bangladesh (2008). Sisimpur’s Reach and

Educational Impact Evidence from a National Longitudinal Survey.14 Overall literacy score of 4-year-olds with high exposure to the show is 54.8 vs 32.9 for those with no exposure.

Associates for Community and Population Research (ACPR). (2008). Sisimpur’s Reach and Educational Impact Evidence from a National Longitudinal Study. Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Measurable ImpactSesame Street programs are moving the needle on gender equity attitudes while providing skills young children need for a bright future. Here are some of the places where we’re having a significant impact.

age 4

1.7

2.4

age 5

2.0

2.8

age 6

1.6

3.2

No Exposure

High Exposure

Sesame’s Impact on Gender AttitudesAverage Gender Equity Score

©/TM 2017 Sesame Workshop. All Rights Reserved.

Overall Literacy Skills by Exposure and Age

age 4 age 6age 5 age 7

32.944.5

54.8

40.5

54.360.6

50.7

6471

60.7

74.980.6

Note: Means are adjusted for child’s gender, residence, mother’s education, family income, and performance at Wave 1. The sample includes children tested at Waves 1 and 2 (N= 4,688).

No Exposure

Some Exposure

High Exposure