The Arabic version of Sesame Street wants children to feel good about themselves.
Returning for its seventh season and broadcast daily on MBC, Ahlan Simsim has a more polished look and episodes revolve around themes of self-confidence and emotional intelligence.
The series is part of a broader humanitarian initiative of the same name ― a partnership between Sesame Workshop and the International Rescue Committee.
As part of the agreement, exclusive educational content will be created as part of the organisation's services in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Such a vast scope, however, runs the risk of the show, which is shot in Jordan, losing the focus responsible for its success.
"One thing we are trying to make sure is that it has to be funny,” says executive producer Khaled Haddad.
“Sesame Street has been doing this for over 50 years and they do have a model of achieving an educational goal through a funny story.”
A scan through the videos on the programme's YouTube channel illustrates the approach.
In one animated entry, the muppet Basma learns to deal with the disappointment of breaking her toy through the support of her friends.
In another episode Basma is anxious after losing a ball that belongs to her goat friend Ma’zooza. The 10-minute segment, mixing real-life puppetry with animation and music, deftly weaves in the show's emotive themes with Basma being asked, "Are you OK?" as she is encouraged to express herself.
Finding that sweet spot between humour and the heartfelt wasn’t straightforward, says Scott Cameron, head of production at Sesame Workshop.
While the organisation launched numerous international co-productions of the show — such as India's Galli Galli Sim Sim, Japan's Sesami Sutorito and Sesamo First Show in Brazil — Cameron says the latest season of Ahlan Simsim is by far the most ambitious of the bunch.
"We have never produced at this scale and with a partner like the International Rescue Committee," he tells The National
"As part of that mandate we focus on creating specific content for four target countries, while at the same time making the show appeal to a pan-Arab audience through our lead broadcaster MBC, which is shown in 22 countries in the region.”
To create content that resonates with such a diverse audience requires a collaborative effort.
While Sesame Workshop provides institutional knowledge regarding the show’s visual and narrative style, the International Rescue Committee provided guidance on the kind of characters tailored for the region.
"We also have researchers and education consultants from the Arab region out in the field talking to parents and educators," Haddad says.
"They give us continuous feedback when it comes to the educational and psychological aspects of the stories.”
One of the insights from Sesame Workshop’s internal research is the growing appeal of animation.
"Kids around the world love animation and that was immediately apparent when we started developing Ahlan Simsin, because the classic cartoon Tom and Jerry is still popular in the region," Cameron says.
"So we decided to bring more animation into the show because it does make kids laugh and lean in to watch."
Animation also makes for good comedy.
Among the most popular characters on Ahlan Simsim are a troupe of insect dabke dancers, whose routines often descend into slapstick comedy.
"They pop into the screen and sometimes interact with the puppets in a silly and physically comedic way,” Cameron says.
“This always helps the humour because with children it doesn't always have to be verbal.”
While the show’s cast have visited Petra via green screen technology, Cameron says Ahlan Simsim is at its best when it shoots on location.
"We shoot short films where we interview kids so they can also see themselves on screen," he says.
"But there is something magical about seeing the muppets outside in a real place and how the sunlight falls on their fur. It really is a 'wow' moment.”
While pleased that Ahlan Simsim has become a go-to edutainment choice for Arab families, Haddad is concerned at the lack of children’s content being produced in the region.
"It's sad to say that other than us there are not many Arabic shows for children. Ahlan Simsim is the only Arabic children's show to premiere in Ramadan," he says.
"So it tells me that all other producers want to tell different kinds of stories rather than also appeal to children. This is an unfortunate situation but I am proud that we have a show, produced in the region by Arabs for Arab children.”
Ahlan Simsim is broadcast daily on MBC 3 at 2.30pm UAE time.
Navdeep Suri, India's Ambassador to the UAE
There has been a longstanding need from the Indian community to have a religious premises where they can practise their beliefs. Currently there is a very, very small temple in Bur Dubai and the community has outgrown this. So this will be a major temple and open to all denominations and a place should reflect India’s diversity.
It fits so well into the UAE’s own commitment to tolerance and pluralism and coming in the year of tolerance gives it that extra dimension.
What we will see on April 20 is the foundation ceremony and we expect a pretty broad cross section of the Indian community to be present, both from the UAE and abroad. The Hindu group that is building the temple will have their holiest leader attending – and we expect very senior representation from the leadership of the UAE.
When the designs were taken to the leadership, there were two clear options. There was a New Jersey model with a rectangular structure with the temple recessed inside so it was not too visible from the outside and another was the Neasden temple in London with the spires in its classical shape. And they said: look we said we wanted a temple so it should look like a temple. So this should be a classical style temple in all its glory.
It is beautifully located - 30 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and barely 45 minutes to Dubai so it serves the needs of both communities.
This is going to be the big temple where I expect people to come from across the country at major festivals and occasions.
It is hugely important – it will take a couple of years to complete given the scale. It is going to be remarkable and will contribute something not just to the landscape in terms of visual architecture but also to the ethos. Here will be a real representation of UAE’s pluralism.
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Creator: Mike White
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