Making a Difference
Sesame Square is dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of children. Through various projects, we strive to reach the most vulnerable groups and provide them with the support they need.
Our Projects
Teaching Smarter
Adamawa & Bauchi
2022 -2023
Dandalin Sesame
Bauchi, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara
2016 - 2018
Techniques for Effective Teaching
Ghana
2009 - 2019
Sesame Square Season 1&2
Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Bauchi, Cross-River, Ebonyi, FCT -Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Nasarawa, Sokoto
2010 - 2015
WASH UP!
Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Republic of Niger, Senegal
2014 -2024
The Adventures of Big Bird and Kami
Kano, Lagos, Ebonyi, Akwa-Ibom
2008 - 2011
Techniques for Effective Teaching
Ghana
2009 - 2019
The Need
Enrolment is steadily increasing in non-state schools that provide affordable education throughout Ghana. These private schools are receiving a growing percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. However, most schools are provided little support from the government or aid agencies to strengthen their services, including teacher quality. This is a much-needed service as only 5% of private kindergarten teachers and 8% of private primary teachers are formally licensed.
Additionally, some common barriers inhibit child-friendly learning environments. These include the widespread practice of corporal punishment in schools, as well as the lack of physical and social accommodation for girls and children with mental and physical disabilities. The lack of professional development resources to help teachers address these and other obstacles has a direct impact on the quality of early education in Ghana, and children’s lifelong development.
Train the Trainer Model
Covering 14 key elements of child-friendly learning, the TFET kit is delivered through a two-tier “train the trainer” model, in which a cohort of “master teachers” undergoes the first tier of training, and then replicates the experience to their fellow teachers. Engaged throughout the program are the Ghana Ministry of Education and Circuit Supervisors from the Ghana Education Services who provide regular visits to ensure faithful implementation of TFET’s capacity building efforts.
15 Training Videos
Reaching the world’s most vulnerable children with life-changing health education
The need
The greatest global health challenge for children is diseases related to water, sanitation, and hygiene. Pneumonia and diarrhea are the leading causes of death for children under the age of five, taking more children’s lives than measles, AIDS, and malaria combined. That’s why the need for proper water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) education is so critical.
The Sesame Street and World Vision WASH UP! initiative aims to reduce the number of children suffering or dying from preventable and treatable diseases by providing access to meaningful sanitation and hygiene education. The multi-platform initiative promotes behavioral changes in sanitation and hygiene by empowering children with the knowledge and skills they need to teach their friends and family about staying healthy.
Sesame Muppets have the unique ability to talk to children, model behaviors for them, and give them language to talk about topics that in some cases may be taboo, like toilet use.
A growing global presence
The WASH UP! initiative leverages Sesame’s proven formula of research-driven programming and world-famous Muppets with World Vision’s support, expertise, and WASH infrastructure. The initiative engages children through in-school, after-school, and community-based programs with learning materials including video content, games, storybooks, and educator guides, all contextualized for the participating schools and communities.
Sesame’s initial WASH project was established in 2012 with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Bangladesh, India, and Nigeria. Since then, a global partnership with World Vision has expanded the scope of the initiative around the world. Starting with the partnership’s launch in Zambia in 2015, the WASH UP! program has since expanded to 10 additional countries:
Ghana, Mali, Niger, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Jordan, Lebanon, the Kurdish Region of Iraq, Honduras, and Afghanistan. Our goal is to reach and impact 3.5+ million children and caregivers in 15 countries across the world by 2020.