Programme-makers say they hope Sesame Street will inspire Pakistani children
In the fight against extremism in nuclear-armed Pakistan, the United States is deploying a new weapon - Elmo. (under the guise of "innocent" child show)
The lovable red monster is about to hit TV screens here in a locally produced version of one of America's most potent exports - Sesame Street. There are local productions in 20 countries, from China to Palestine.
The Pakistani programme, Sim Sim Hamara, has not come cheap.
The United States Agency for International Development, USAID, has committed $10m (7.4m euros, £6.3m) to the four-year project. The final figure could be twice that. It is a major investment in a troubled nation, where the only education on offer for some is in radical madrassas.
The US government is hoping that as well as providing basic literacy and numeracy skills, the programme will teach lessons in tolerance, and mutual respect.
On set in Lahore, the producers, the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop, insisted that while Washington funded the series, it did not write the script.
Pig-tailed puppet
The finance came with no strings attached, according to Faizan Peerzada, the theatre group's chief executive officer.
"I think I really respect the American taxpayer that at this critical time they have invested this money for the children of Pakistan, and without any prerequisites," he said. RANI THE PUPPET
Rani is a six-year-old on a quest for knowledge, with a magnifying glass at the ready.
This farmer's daughter with flowers in her hair has a love of nature and a garden of her own.
She is sporty, and fond of Pakistani traditional music but her defining characteristic is her hungry mind.
She has an endless supply of questions, according to Yamina Peerzada, the puppeteer who plays her.
"She's this over-enthusiastic child, who always wants to know everything. She's out-there, and confident."
Rani's creators say she is over-enthusiastic, and unstoppable, deliberately so.
"She's very much at the top of things," says the show's head writer Imran Peerzada.
"We wanted to show her taking the lead." (feminist making alert!)
"The only requisite is to make a beautiful programme, so our children can get inspired."
Elmo's new home is a Pakistani village, complete with tea-stall and shady Banyan tree. Big Bird has not made the journey, so he is surrounded by new friends. There is Baily the donkey - who wants to be a pop star - and a vain crocodile called Haseen O'Jameel, who dwells at the bottom of a well.
The star of the show is Rani, a pig-tailed puppet, who is cricket-mad, energetic and curious.
The creators hope this strong female lead will send a message to the next generation in this conservative society - especially the girls.
"A lot of girls here are shy," says Yamina Peerzada, the animated young actress who is voice of Rani.
"Maybe seeing Rani - that's she's really strong-headed, and she's the captain of the cricket team and she's not afraid to ask questions - I'm hoping the children will relate to that, and kind of take some courage, and just love her for that."
For answers to her many questions, Rani often turns to a human playmate Kiran, the daughter of the village schoolteacher. Saleha Majeed, the 12-year-old who plays Kiran, says the puppets are like family.
"I feel like they are my younger brothers and sisters, 'cos I am telling them a lot of stuff, and they are learning from me."
She thinks the show's young viewers will learn a lot too - more than if they go to school.
Many Pakistani children never get inside a classroom. One third of primary school-age children in the country are not in class and so this programme may be their only teacher.
"This is not building a school," says Faizan Peerzada, "this is reaching them with a school. It will be an informal, joyful learning process."
The aim is to reach children across Pakistan. The ABC will be in Urdu and the languages of Pakistan's provinces, which will have their own episodes. The cast includes characters with different skin tones - light and dark - to reflect regional diversity.
Colourful window
The programme will also include holidays marked by different religions - a display of mutual respect in a country where minority religions often come under attack.
But the content will be tailored to the target audience, of four- to eight-year-olds.
Elmo is one of the cast of characters in the Pakistani edition - but not Big Bird
"The child has to share a piece of bread with the other, and he has to play with the same toy," said Faizan Peerzada. "That's the tolerance we are talking about, and that tolerance will lead to all levels of tolerance."
The show is a collaboration with the founders of Sesame Street, the US Sesame Workshop. But they stress their involvement was limited to advice and support.
"This is a project being created by Pakistani people, for Pakistani children," said Charlotte Cole, of the Sesame Workshop. "Our hope is that it will be seen as a gift to children, something that is Pakistan's own."
The programme - and its American funding - may not go down well with everyone here - many Pakistanis see the US as an enemy, rather than an ally.
The makers of Sim Sim Hamara know the risks of angering the militants. They learnt that in 2008, when there were three bombs in one day at one of their events.
There was no loss of life, and the show went on the next day.
"The biggest Jihad is to be a good human being," said Faizan Peerzada, "to think of your neighbours, and to work for the progress of your community."
He believes that is a lesson the programme can instil in the young minds of Pakistan.
"This is a colourful window that will open to our children," he said "and they deserve it. I'm very hopeful that something as innocent as this should not be targeted."
"We are not receiving threats," he said "at this point in time."
Re: Sesame Street arrives in Lahore to brainwash kids
Pakistani media is already working on the US lines.. this is just an addition to it...
when i first watched it i thought it was some "innocent" show for children but then found out that it was actually the project of USAID
according to my observation Pakistani children are not interested in such shows instead they love to watch cartoon network and Pogo(i guess that's the name of that Indian channel) so why do US needs to WASTE a lot of money to brain wash as they are already being so...
Re: Sesame Street arrives in Lahore to brainwash kids
^^ you seem to be quite irrational. You clearly do not understand how childhood psychology works.
OP: I am afraid that sesame street will also promote gay and lesbian liberties and rights. Probably ahmadiyya issue will also appear in it.
Help me to escape from this existence
I yearn for an answer... can you help me?
I'm drowning in a sea of abused visions and shattered dreams
In somnolent illusion... I'm paralyzed
Re: Sesame Street arrives in Lahore to brainwash kids
There is already media indoctrination of Godlessness on public in Pakistan.This is another step to the progress.While there is also "USAID" funding on entire media,they can use it openly.
Re: Sesame Street arrives in Lahore to brainwash kids
Wow. These news stories are so entertaining. I love how there is a Pakistani puppet girl in the picture, LOL! Foreign editions, especially desi ones, of American shows just crack me up.
I was looking at myself talking to myself and I realized this conversation...I was having with myself looking at myself was a conversation with myself that I needed to have with myself.
Re: Sesame Street arrives in Lahore to brainwash kids
It's amazing how Muslims now-a-days are so paranoid...It's just an innocent children show..and it will definitely be adopted to meet the demands of Pakistani children and society so I don't think gay issues will be brought up in the show..And this just adds to the list of already so many American cartoon channels...so nothing new here. Let kids have some fun and enjoy some cartoons.
The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.
- Stephen Hawking
Re: Sesame Street arrives in Lahore to brainwash kids
format_quote Originally Posted by Roasted Cashew
It's amazing how Muslims now-a-days are so paranoid...It's just an innocent children show..and it will definitely be adopted to meet the demands of Pakistani children and society so I don't think gay issues will be brought up in the show..And this just adds to the list of already so many American cartoon channels...so nothing new here. Let kids have some fun and enjoy some cartoons.
Apparently you are not aware of the type of sophisticated propaganda that goes behind all of this.
Re: Sesame Street arrives in Lahore to brainwash kids
format_quote Originally Posted by islamica
Apparently you are not aware of the type of sophisticated propaganda that goes behind all of this.
yea, I wonder what sophisticated propaganda is behind Cartoon Network which I watched growing up? It clearly didn't shape my mind on any worldly issues or affairs...I just happened to learn a thing or two about western culture though(things like Christmas celebration, etc) and had a very fun childhood. Please stop thinking so much and relax. Not everything the west does is a propaganda against Islam. I am sure they have better things to do too.
The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.
- Stephen Hawking
Re: Sesame Street arrives in Lahore to brainwash kids
i think paranoid happened to most of the muslims country especially when theres lack of education and knowledge.
Same goes to Malaysian..but nowadays theres a bit of improvement they are getting more level headed.
Political is also the same but people are getting wiser not being to get too much paranoid to propaganda and etc.
25:36 And the true servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk the earth with humility and when the ignorant address them, they respond with words of peace.
Re: Sesame Street arrives in Lahore to brainwash kids
Some times it's paranoia and conspiracies theories and some times it's the Truth and those who are ignorant of it call it as paranoia and conspiracy theories.
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