PEN MEDIA  is a not-for-profit media organization dedicated to strengthening the educational, cultural, social and environmental well being of all Palestinians.         PEN MEDIA resolves to:    Reach all sectors of Palestinian society regardless of sex, religion or Economic background.           Make the children of Palestinian a number one priority with service to women and youth a close second.     Give special attention to local production and help raise the level of   Palestinian productions both in format and technical capabilities.        Support cooperation between local independent television stations program exchange and training.      Oppose censorship and assure every Palestinian the right to speak freely.

Pen Media is part of the Community Media Network

Press release

Launch of Shara'a Simsim: providing colorful and wholesome messages to Palestinian children

Bethlehem, Palestine & New York, NY (May 19th)- Under the patronage of the Palestinian Prime Minister, the latest television version of Shara'a Simsim was premiered today to the excitement of over a hundred Palestinian children.  Haneen and Kareem, the lovable Palestinian muppets, welcomed guests to the launch of 26 new and exciting television shows for young children.

Palestinian Minister of Culture Siham Barghouti joined USAID director Howard Sumka, Sesame Workshop vice president Anita Stewart and local educators at the event which featured the screening of one of the locally produced program that will be aired on Palestinian television networks and stations. Speaking on behalf of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, the cultural minister enthusiastically welcomed the launch of the Shara'a Simsim program. "Programs like this one help raise awareness of the rights of Palestinian children with the ultimate aim of changing the status quo so they can enjoy their childhood just like all children." Minister Barghouti said the program helps shape the character of Palestinian children in a way that they can learn and enjoy.

With funding from USAID, Season IV of Shara'a Simsim filmed in a locally constructed  studio in El-Bireh/Ramallah, reflects a colorful and rich program that provides educational messages in an entertaining way. This season's episodes focus on preparing Palestinian children for the first day in school, love of learning, positive social behaviors and the importance of caring for our environment Ministry of Education and Higher Education research indicates s that 70%  children in Palestine have no access to any type of formal preschool education.

Robert Knežević, Regional Director of International Partnerships at Sesame Workshop in New York expressed excitement at the production quality that the Palestinian team has produced. "The PenMedia team headed by Daoud Kuttab has been able to reflect the twin ideas of Sesame Workshop of producing exceptionally fun filled and educationally sound programming for the children of Palestine."

The launch of the television series is the first step in the broadcasting of a 52 series program that has been funded by USAID. Howard Sumka director of USAID in West Bank and Gaza expressed encouragement about the program. “This is truly an achievement,” he said.   “What will make it a success is the impact it will have on Palestinian children. Early childhood education is a critical foundation for better learning outcomes in school," Sumka added.

The Palestinian executive producer of Shara'a Simsim, Daoud Kuttab considered the launch a major milestone. "This program reflects the efforts of a joint public private cooperation with one aim of serving the children of Palestine. "We have succeeded in translating the goals of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in a colorful and exciting program that we believe all children of Palestine will enjoy," said Kuttab.

Layla Sayegh, executive director of PenMedia , the Palestinian NGO that produced the program says that the project provided employment for nearly 100 Palestinian creative and technical talent. "Tens of children from the Ramallah and Jerusalem areas were featured in various segments of the program giving them a rare opportunity to participate in a world class children's television program," she said.

The television program's studio director Saed Andoni praised the creative team that was hired to work on the program and the opportunity to work in a large studio. "We worked with  new writers from different cities in Palestine  as well as new and young Palestinian creative talent who brought great diversity and approaches producing a television series that has a wonderful and exciting look and feel to it."

New puppeteers and human actors were added to the program's veteran rooster. Shathen Zamamiri joined veteran muppeter Fadi Al Ghol and Raja'a Sandouka, while Ismael Dabagh played the human character of Salim.

In a complementary development a wide ranging outreach program under the guidance of the leading Palestinian child advisor, Dr. Cairo Arafat, has also been launched with the aim of complementing the television series. Books, training videos, posters as well walkaround events and a radio series as well as an all encompassing website are being produced to help children, parents and caregivers in facilitating children’s love of learning, pre-literacy skills, school readiness and positive social development.

About Sesame Workshop

 Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that revolutionized children’s television programming with the landmark Sesame Street. The Workshop produces local Sesame Street programs, seen in over 140 countries, and other acclaimed shows to help bridge the literacy gap including The Electric Company and Pinky Dinky Doo. Beyond television, the Workshop produces content for multiple media platforms on a wide range of issues including literacy, health and military deployment. Initiatives meet specific needs to help young children and families develop critical skills, acquire healthy habits and build emotional strength to prepare them for lifelong learning. Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org.

About PenMedia

Since 1996 Palestinian efforts have been focused on training creative and administrative personnel with the aim of having a Palestinian organization that can produce the Shara'a Simsim series. Since 2008 PenMedia, a registered Palestinian media NGO has succeeded in uniting these creative and management teams with the goal of providing Palestinian children with high quality television programming complemented with a full fledged outreach program that spans various media platforms.. For more information on PenMedia visit www.Penmedia.ps   

Contacts

Layla Sayegh, executive director, PenMedia

+970 2 2958261 Email: layla@penmedia.ps  

Beatrice Chow Sesame Workshop

(212) 875-6586

beatrice.chow@sesameworkshop.org

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Last modified: 05/25/10