Early education by the millions

India | Early education by the millions

Children's Education Initiatives in India | Early education by the millions

India has 165 million children under age 6¹, and only 40 percent of children attend preschool.² Numbers like these alone show the enormous potential for positive change.

Since 2006, Galli Galli Sim Sim, India’s locally produced version of Sesame Street, has been working to bring early education to children throughout the country. More than 20 million³ children across India are regularly glued to TV screens to watch the show with its diverse cast, vibrant set, and music and stories that reflect the country’s many cultures and traditions. Learn more about the program.

Now in its fifth season, the show covers a wide range of children's education topics, from literacy to health and nutrition. Research shows that Galli Galli Sim Sim’s efforts are paying off, building important skills like literacy and numeracy among those who need it most. For example, children with exposure to the program show significant gains in Hindi literacy, especially among those from less privileged backgrounds.⁴

To bring the benefits of education to more children, we partner with non-profit child-care centers, called balwadis, where 95 percent of the children are from low-income families. Through a mobile viewing program and numerous outreach efforts, Galli Galli Sim Sim has reached more than a million children⁵, including some of the world’s poorest kids.

Major support for Galli Galli Sim Sim is provided by Turner Entertainment Networks Asia, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, MetLife Foundation, Schwab Charitable Donor-Advised Fund, Qualcomm Wireless Reach, Ford Foundation, HSBC, Sir Ratan Tata Trust.