Using Elmo to Send a Message

Everyone remembers curling up on the couch to tune into an episode of Sesame Street. However, the children’s television program is become more than a source of entertainment. Always seen as an educational broadcast, Sesame Street is now pioneering a path of cultural awareness and social innovation. As reported by Idealist, the show’s directors are hoping to increase understanding by promoting respect across international lines. Keeping this mission in mind, Sesame Street has adapted its themes to the identities of its various consumer countries. In South Africa, an HIV-positive character named Kami enjoys a prominent role in the fictional community. In Northern Ireland, Israel, and Palestine, themes of reconciliation and interaction are underscored in the local language. However, the importance of connecting with youth is not new. Several think tanks including the Brookings Institution and CSIS have looked at the importance of connecting with the future generation at a young age. Still, challenges remain including one difficult question: “Can you tell me how to get…how to get to Sesame Street?”