‘Sesame Street’ Characters To Help Teach Syrian Refugees In $100 Million Project

By Becca Longmire. Published: 20 Dec 2017 2:16 PM

KEYSTONE

Characters from the much-loved children’s TV series “Sesame Street” will be used to help teach child refugees, it has been confirmed.

The Sesame Workshop and the International Rescue Committee have won a $100 million grant to help with the “toxic stress” that children displaced by the war in Syria have been experiencing.

We are thrilled and honored to be the recipient of @MacFound's #100andChange grant with @theIRC! This $100 million award will allow us to create the largest early childhood intervention in the history of humanitarian response. #SSTxIRC pic.twitter.com/6I8tvSSNV3

— Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) December 20, 2017

Millions of young Syrians’ lives have been ruined in the horrific conditions, but the charities are hoping to change this by delivering the largest transformative early learning programme in the world.

According to the International Rescue Committee‘s website, the kids will have the use of televisions, mobile phones, teacher training and home visits to give more than 9 million refugee children in the Middle East the language, reading, math and emotional skills they need to succeed.

The huge donation was made by the Chicago-based John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation and will help children in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Syria.

Thank you @MacFound for awarding @SesameWorkshop and @theIRC with the #100andChange grant that will allow us to change the lives of millions of children! We are so honored to have received this award! pic.twitter.com/Lr5LbLM3Wb

— Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) December 20, 2017

Julia Stasch, president of the foundation, explained, according to BBC News: “The longer-term goal is to change the system of humanitarian aid to focus more on helping to ensure the future of young children through education.”

David Miliband, president of the International Rescue Committee, added: “At a time when governments are in retreat, [non-governmental organisations] and philanthropists need to step up, that is what we are seeing here – and in a big way.”