Sesame Workshop, the not-for-profit organisation behind 'Sesame Street', Bert, Ernie and Big Bird, has been given £5m under the Partnership for Peace programme, of which £1.75m grant has come from the EU.
Of the 76 'Sesame Stories', different episodes have been made for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, and Jordan. Israel began showing the programmes last month and the shows for the Palestinian territories and Jordan will air from October 26, the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The programmes have been co-produced by Palestinians, Israelis and Jordanians, and cover themes such as acceptance, empathy, and accepting similarities and differences.
Sesame Workshop's president and CEO Gary E Knell said: "'Sesame Stories' strives to counter the negative images that children see on television every day and to offer hope for a better world.
"'Sesame Stories' conveys realistic and positive messages, and provides a valuable tool to children in developing new perspectives about themselves and those around them."
'Sesame Street' programmes are broadcast in 120 countries. The Middle East programmes come a year after an HIV-positive character was introduced to Sesame Street in South Africa to help educate children about Aids, one of the country's biggest killers.
If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .
_1.jpg)
.jpg)
