Sesame Workshop Releases New Resources for Refugee Children

Sesame Workshop has released new educational resources for displaced refugee children through its Welcome Sesame initiative in Dari, Pashto, Ukrainian, Spanish and English.

The newest materials are tailored to the needs of Afghan and Ukrainian families and are available online and through providers and partners such as resettlement agencies in the U.S. and global humanitarian organizations. Modules include “Fostering a Sense of Belonging” and “Coping with the Trauma of Resettlement.”

Additional modules are “Coping with Big Changes,” “Learning New Things” and “Celebrating Who We Are.” Materials and training for providers on how to best support families during the resettlement process and a training webinar are also available.

Welcome Sesame is anchored by two large-scale initiatives: Ahlan Simsim, reaching families affected by conflict in the Middle East and North Africa, and Play to Learn, reaching families affected by the Rohingya and Syrian refugee crises and beyond.

“With the number of displaced families worldwide reaching record highs, the need for early learning and nurturing care for young children and caregivers affected by crisis has never been greater,” said Sherrie Westin, president of Sesame Workshop. “Our Welcome Sesame initiative is reaching children in the narrow window of their lives when it’s most important for their healthy development. Today’s expansion of Welcome Sesame will bring critically needed early childhood development support to families whose lives have been upended, including by the recent crises in Afghanistan and Ukraine.”