President's Letter
| President and CEO Gary E. Knell |
Dear Friends:
Welcome to the longest street in the world. In 1968, Sesame Workshop set forth an experiment to use television as an educational tool to help prepare young children for school, and it resulted in the creation of a program that changed the face of television forever. Sesame Street immediately became a safe haven for children based on mutual respect and a love of learning, and today we continue to do that, now on a global scale and on a multitude of platforms.
The enthusiasm that evolved into Sesame Street four decades ago remains at the heart of Sesame Workshop’s mission today. From television to books to online, Sesame Workshop’s content for all forms of media is providing learning opportunities for children in Bangladesh, South Africa, Egypt and India. On this site you can tour the world, visiting each of the countries where Sesame Street co-productions are making a difference. Experience firsthand the breadth of our work and discover how the Workshop tailors its educational approach locally. From HIV/AIDS education in South Africa, to respect and understanding in Israel and Kosovo, to girls’ education in Egypt, get to know our Sesame family members better and their efforts to reach children. We have an ever-growing family of monsters, grouches, birds and creatures of all kinds, speaking various dialects and singing local songs with local rhythms.
Here you can also learn how Sesame Workshop’s efforts go well beyond Sesame Street and the television screen. Media today provides a great variety of choices that are making it easier than ever to fit individual lifestyles and needs. The Workshop is taking advantage of this revolution, working tirelessly to create content to make learning opportunities, for children and caregivers, readily available. From outreach initiatives that help military families cope with deployment and change, tips for new parents, podcasts for viewers and fans, radio programs in South Africa, or mobile viewings in India and Bangladesh, we are reaching families wherever they may be and meeting their needs, on their time.
The information and activities throughout this site reflect our vision for a better future for our children. We hope you find it to be a valuable resource, and a safe environment, for the young and young-at-heart, to enjoy time with favorite friends and support a love of learning.
Our work is truly a collaboration of writers, researchers, child development experts, puppeteers, actors, producers, corporations, foundations and most importantly, you. As a nonprofit organization, Sesame Workshop values your support and welcomes you to be part of our mission to create educational opportunities worldwide. Sesame Ambassadors is one of the many ways you can get involved.
The experiment that began nearly four decades ago hasn’t ended. We continue to challenge ourselves to find innovative ways to open doors and break down walls to make learning engaging and prevalent. Starting here, join in our experiment, by exploring the longest street in the world.
Gary E. Knell
President and CEO