Arabic Sesame Street, YouTube’s Creators for Change Team Up

Iftah Ya Simsim, an Arabic version of Sesame Street, has joined forces with YouTube’s Creators for Change initiative, a global effort to empower the platform’s role models who use their channels to tackle social issues.

Creators for Change seeks to encourage content creators around the globe to continue sharing messages that help bring about a positive social impact through their work on YouTube. In September 2018, season three of Iftah Ya Simsim will feature the region’s top YouTube content creators.

Under the partnership, the content will be produced in part at the YouTube Space Dubai, which is set to open early next year. Iftah Ya Simsim creators will produce additional episodes that will be available exclusively on YouTube. Omar Hussein is one of Creators for Change’s 11 global ambassadors and is joined by Arab creators Maha Abdelghaffar, Shog Al Meskary and Ezaldeen Aref as Creators for Change fellows. With the return of popular characters such as Elmo, No’man, Gargur and Shams, the latest Muppet to join the Iftah Ya Simsim cast from the GCC and MENA region, the third season will focus on three themes: respect for one’s self and each other, resilience through being strong and adaptable, and relationships. These themes are designed to encourage children’s social-emotional development by teaching them about self-esteem, embracing their identity, as well as being positive, proactive members of society.

“We believe in the power of starting early and starting right,” said Dr. Cairo Arafat, the managing director of Bidaya Media, which produces Iftah Ya Simsim. “Changing the world for the better is something every one of us can do, and helping young children learn these positive behaviors and practice them in their relationships with siblings, neighbors, classmates and friends lays the foundation for more tolerant and accepting societies. We’re proud to include our Iftah Ya Simsim Muppets—Shams, No’man, Melsoon, Elmo, Gargur, Kaaki and Habib—in Creators for Change.”

Tarek Abdalla, head of Google marketing for the Middle East and North Africa, added, “Through our YouTube Creators for Change program, we will continue to support voices promoting tolerance and empathy. Iftah Ya Simsim has championed these values for decades through their iconic characters who tell stories and enjoy massive popularity among their young audience in the Arab world. We are proud to have them join us as a Creator for Change partner, and we look forward to seeing the impact of our work together.”