“Sesame Street” coming to Pakistan: report
78 Urdu-language TV and radio episodes are due to be made and a live show will tour with 600 performances in a $20 million, USAid-funded Pakistani Children Television Project. – File Photo by AP
LONDON: The twins Peerzada brothers Faizan and Saadan from Lahore are planning to produce their own version of the world’s most-watched children’s programme-the Sesame Street-with funding from the US government, says a report in “The Times”.
With funding from the US Government, they aim to help to educate Pakistan’s children. Faizan told the daily: “In the heart of Pakistan the schools are very dark, not very exciting. We go in with this light that encourages them, makes them smile.”
Their funding is part of a $20 million, USAid-funded Pakistani Children Television Project, in which 78 Urdu-language TV and radio episodes are due to be made and a live show will tour with 600 performances.
It is thought that two of the American characters will make regular appearances along with seven new Pakistani characters.
Another brother, Imraan, who will help to write the script, said that a strong female lead “will represent what little girls have to go through in this gender-biased society”.
The shows are performed in areas without television or radio. Half of Pakistan’s population is illiterate and three in ten primary-aged children do not go to school. But the shows are not about only reading, writing and arithmetic, they also teach Islamic principles.
“The meaning of jihad (struggle) can be told with lots of colours and a little bird and a flower. No one needs to be a villain. This is what we try to put into the minds of children: the biggest jihad begins when you look into your own self,” they said.
The paper also noted that the puppeteers, who have run the Rafi Peer Puppet Workshop in Lahore for 34 years, producing educational shows for children, have three times been the victim of terrorist bombs, one of which injured nine people in an audience at an international festival they organised in 1992. Another destroyed their restaurant and, seven months ago, a third blew out the windows of their building.
Good luck. I hope you bring some happiness to the little ones in Pakistan. Don't be discouraged and have some fun while doing it.
The PCTV programme was supposed to have tremendous and long lasting positive implications for our children and especially their education, literacy, learning and attitudinal development. I am afraid 20 Million US $ should have been much effectively utilized than just 78 sesame street TV shows and 600 live puppet shows over a period of 4 years, of which only 3 are left. This is not just a game of numbers but should be developed into a long term self sustaining and profiting Children Television Institution. The Rafi Peer team, despite their apparent sincere efforts seems to be requiring appropriate management to implement the project effectively.
i think is good idea ,will help kid,s specialy nto much nagetive going on country ,i hope our govermemt do.n share the profit,s profit togo to children as well ,i hope kid,s enjoy i am 40 year old i enjoy when ever i watch any cartoon .
Being a good Muslim means being educated in practical knowledge, besides spiritual knowledge.
That is why the attacks on girls school is the handiwork of non-Muslims.
Education is not only vital to Islam, but a REQUIREMENT to be a Muslim.
You are so right.
Welldone! something to be cherished in these dark and gloomy times.Indeed a good step ahead, to free the next generations from the shackles of ignorance and fanaticism.
I applaud the desire to raise the awareness of life and education in children but think for a moment/; 20 million dollars!!! Assuming each show costs 50000 USD = 3.9 Million. Road show cost for a three dedicated teams touring 12 months @ 2 million per year (which is a lot of money) = 6 Million Total 9.9 Million + 3 Million admin and other costs + have some fun at the expense of USAID – 15 Million … so who gets the balance 5 Million. Here I am being nice … the cost of this production should not be mote than 5 million USD. Those in the field will know what a local Pakistani production costs.
Having said that …If we used this money to educate children by putting decent teachers into schools and providing books and paying for fees for children who cannot go to school … can you imagine how much this would do to better the cause of children and education?????
With due respect to all these manipulators who are part of this project and those who are funding it …. Pakistan does not need USAID to give us 20 Million USD to be spent on puppet shows … what ever the thinking behind it.
Pakistan is a nation which could have done with this money being spent on the education system that is in tatters … wake up Pakistan … stop this day dreaming!!!!!!
I have taught children in Pakistan and know the reality of this project .. it is nothing but a scam and a terrible injustice to the children of Pakistan.
well said Mr Miller.i really appreciate. Thank you very much for being so honest.
For electricity they will provide generators…
@ Mani and Guest, by live they mean it to be a traveling live show, where the puppets will perform in person. Like theatre! I think its a brilliant idea as infotainment is the most versatile way of teaching, learning and applying!
I am a huge fan of Sesame Street and would love to play any role in bringing this idea forward.
I am glad to know that there are people out there in Pakistan who are actively thinking of shaping up the future of Pakistan and have not given up…..yet.
This is supposed to be a live show. So much for Electricity
How kids will watch it without electricity !!
How about a weird concept of repeat telecast??
I think electricity is not an issue, if people can post their comments despite load shedding than children can watch cartoons too. However, the most important thing is what audience this program will attract. Unfortunately, a majority of the kids is doing labor job out in the markets. how about a Govt./US fund for their education?