Bangladeshi Version of Sesame Street Rolls Out Internationally

DHAKA/NEW YORK, March 3:
Sesame Workshop announced that Sisimpur, the Bangladeshi adaptation of Sesame Street, is now airing on Channel i in the Middle East,
the U.K. and North America.

Targeted at 3- to
6-year-old Bangladeshi children, the series features Halum, a tiger who enjoys
playing and laughing, even when things go wrong; Shiku, a curious jackal who
comes from a long line of clever family members; Tuktuki, an extroverted
5-year-old girl who enjoys being helpful but is usually doing ten things at
once; and Ikri Mikri, an affectionate 3-year-old who tries to do things by
herself but doesn’t always succeed.

Sisimpur’s educational objectives are developed in
collaboration with Bangladeshi educational advisors and outline a range of
skills that advisors deemed particularly important to children in Bangladesh. Sisimpur embraces the concept of joy in learning, highlighting
lessons in literacy and numeracy, as well as health and respect in ways that
are fun and engaging.

Channel i currently
reaches children in rural and urban regions of Bangladesh, as well as
Bangladeshi children living abroad. Sisimpur’s third season continues to air on Bangladesh
Television.

Sesame Workshop works on
the series with Nayantara Communications, which produces Sisimpur in Bangladesh with puppeteer Mostafa Monwar
serving as the series’ chief creative advisor. Sisimpur is sponsored by Unilever’s health brand,
Pepsodent, and receives support from the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID).

“We are elated to extend
the incredible, educational adventures in Sisimpur to Bangla-speaking children around the world
through Channel i, providing them with a program that is educational, engaging
and culturally-relevant,” said Sara Zaker, the project head of Nayantara
Communications. “Sisimpur’s
popularity and impact has grown more rapidly than we ever could have dreamed,
and with Channel i’s support, will continue to flourish and encourage more
children than ever to reach their highest potential.”

—By Irene Lew