Middle East and North Africa
Using media, playful learning, and caregiver support to help children in the region learn, connect, and build resilience
Across the Middle East and in North Africa, Sesame Workshop helps children gain academic and social-emotional skills and build resilience—including in areas affected by conflict and displacement—all with Sesame’s trademark mix of beloved characters and wholehearted joy.
For over four decades, Sesame Workshop has been making localized content for children and families in the Middle East, starting with the debut of the multi-generational hit series, Iftah Ya Simsim in 1979 followed by versions in Egypt, Jordan, Palestine and Israel. Today, the Arabic-language Sesame Street, Ahlan Simsim, is produced in Amman and brought to life by a creative team from across the region as part of our broader Ahlan Simsim program.
In addition to our outreach efforts for families affected by crisis, we also support life-saving lessons about water, sanitation, and hygiene. lessons about water, sanitation, and hygiene.
Ahlan Simsim is a transformational program that integrates direct services for families affected by conflict and crisis with engaging educational media. Ahlan Simsim is reaching children wherever they are — from classrooms, to health clinics and learning centers, to TVs and mobile devices.
Ahlan Simsim
The single largest early childhood intervention in the history of humanitarian response, Ahlan Simsim has reached over a million children through direct services in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria and 29 million children through Ahlan Simsim, the award-winning locally produced Arabic-language version of Sesame Street airing across the Middle East and North Africa.
WASH UP! In Jordan, Lebanon, Kurdish Region of Iraq
Sesame Workshop and World Vision expanded our WASH UP! initiative to reach refugee children in Jordan, Lebanon and the Kurdish Region of Iraq. WASH UP! supports socio-emotional well-being through lessons on proper water use, sanitation and hygiene habits in 11 countries around the world.
In 2020, with an unprecedented investment from the MacArthur Foundation and further support from the LEGO Foundation, Sesame Workshop and the International Rescue Committee created Ahlan Simsim (“Welcome Sesame” in Arabic), a groundbreaking program delivering vital early learning and nurturing care to children and caregivers across the Middle East and North Africa, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
To date, Ahlan Simsim has reached an incredible 27 million children across MENA. With the Ahlan Simsim TV show airing across the Middle East and North Africa, and play-based learning and caregiver support in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, Ahlan Simsim brings families educational resources that can help them thrive. In Iraq, we’re working with USAID to extend Ahlan Simsim’s reach with culturally tailored educational media for young children and tools for caregivers and teachers to promote understanding, equity, and tolerance across divides.
Alhan Simsim follows the adventures of Basma and Jad, two best friends exploring their world. Each episode features familiar Muppet friends, animated characters, and trusted adults who help our characters learn how to identify and manage big feelings-with lots of fun, laughter, and learning along the way!
Local Resources
| Follow Us on Our Channels @ahlansimsim: |  -.  -.  |
| Visit Us on the Web: | AhlamSimsim.org |
