Sesame Workshop Debuts Short Doc on Syrian Puppeteer

Sesame Workshop has debuted Nowar, an exclusive behind-the-scenes short documentary about Syrian puppeteer Nowar Al-Mahyri, on YouTube.

Al-Mahyri fled Syria in 2016 and has not seen his wife and young daughter, both still in Damascus, for six years. He is able to parent and bring joy to his daughter from afar by playing the Muppet character Jad on Ahlan Simsim, the Arabic version of Sesame Street created for children affected by conflict and crisis in the Middle East.

Ahlan Simsim is part of a humanitarian program from Sesame Workshop and the International Rescue Committee to bring early learning to children and caregivers across the Middle East.

The seven-minute documentary brings the reality of war and migration into focus through the lens of one father who misses his family but is able to bring laughter, learning and joy to many others.

“It is my hope that Jad can give Mila and many other children a piece of childhood that they’ve lost,” Al-Mahyri said.