Question and Answer with International Advisors

(1) What do you think about Sesame Workshop and Merrill Lynch's effort to address the topic of global citizenship--through the Panwapa project--among young children (ages 4 to 7)?

Debbie Lente-Jojola, Supervisory Education Specialist, Early Childhood (New Mexico): Panwapa is a non-threatening way of incorporating the larger, global world into the lives of all children. Young children are so impressionable - they need to know of and see children, regardless of where they live or their economic conditions. Panwapa provides an avenue for children to learn to appreciate the value and beauty of diverse cultures and populations. Congratulations to Sesame Workshop for respecting the value of young children and the complicated lives they lead in today’s world by providing the Panwapa project.

Marcella Lembert, Ph.D., Vice President, LATAM Philanthropy, Merrill Lynch: I am convinced that the 1969 introduction of Sesame Street was a turning point not only for children’s TV, but for television development throughout the world. Panwapa will represent the same innovation for the Internet. Just as the content of Sesame Street had such an impact on preschool education in helping to diminish low-achievement, failing and dropout problems in developed and underdeveloped countries, I believe that the content of Panwapa will equally impact not only preschool education but social development and human relations around the world as well. I truly believe that Panwapa will change our world, in the sense that Panwapa Kids will evolve into global citizens and socially responsible persons that will help in solving the planet’s biggest problems, such as poverty, famine, ecology, etc. This can be a generation free of racial, cultural, religious, gender and economical stereotypes. The day we all feel responsible for the world we live in will be the day that we achieve peace.

Asha Singh, Director, Education & Research, Galli Galli Sim Sim (India): Young children's understanding is characterized by a focus on the local, specific and concrete. The largely abstract notions of nation, culture or world as a family would seem to be inappropriate for this target age. However, Sesame Workshop transforms these complexities by addressing global citizenship for evolving minds, by connecting children in different parts of the globe by common needs, relations, events, and celebrations embedded in uncommon locations. Familiarity within strange settings facilitates response, recall and regard. I am deeply appreciative of media for children that creates cultural bridges, addresses uneven distribution of resources, making each life a part of the modern world.

Spyros Spyrou, Director of the Center for the Study of Childhood and Adolescence and President of the Center's Board of Directors (Greece): Young children are not just tomorrow’s future, they are also today’s present and that is why their worlds, their needs and interests need to be addressed today and from a perspective that makes sense to them. Panwapa is a project that puts children center stage and treats them with respect. Yet, the program is not devoid of moral value and moral reflection and serves as a tool for children to develop a sense of belonging and participation in the worlds that surround them.

(2) What messages do you hope children will take away from Panwapa?

Debbie Lente-Jojola: The program provides so many unique ways of involving children/families in activities that are age-appropriate and completely open. The sense of “belonging” in your community, expanding this theme to a larger community, and other countries is what this project will instill in young children’s minds. Its interconnectedness to “my world” and “other worlds” is the hope young children will grasp in the concepts, themes and activities of the project.

Marcella Lembert: There will be many messages to be learned through the Panwapa educational curriculum. This curriculum addresses today’s most relevant issues that have been left out of the educational curriculum in many schools around the world, from preschool to high school. A few things I think children will take with them from Panwapa are: an open and tolerant attitude towards similarities and differences, a global citizenship vision, respect and appreciation towards other lifestyles and cultures, an understanding of kids’ basic needs and rights.

Asha Singh: An important take-away for children will be learning about the many versions of what is contemporary and that there are many different ways of living, enjoying and learning. Another important take-away is that fun and laughter are universal and poverty or geographic variations are not synonymous with despondency, dejection or apathy.

Spyros Spyrou: The program is open-ended and will likely resonate in different ways with children’s experiences and lives. But it also provides valuable lessons for children’s developing sense of citizenship, starting from their families and peer groups, their local communities and cultures, and gradually helping them acquire a sense of global citizenship and responsibility. Above all, I would hope that children will learn to appreciate the beauty of diversity and sameness that characterizes us as human beings and to take their role as global citizens one step further and contribute to social change in the world.

(3) What makes Panwapa different from other media initiatives for young children?

Debbie Lente-Jojola: This project has a unique view on the world in which we live in today. Young children see the world through their experiences and the eyes of their parents. In this project, the floodgates are open to diversity, beauty and appreciation for their own and other worlds.

Marcella Lembert: What makes Panwapa different is, first and foremost, its curriculum; second, the fact that it is a project designed for a worldwide target; third, the fact that the people in charge of creating and developing this project come from the company with the most experience, knowledge and credibility in the area of children education and entertainment, that is, Sesame Workshop. It is also important to note that the sponsorship provided by Merrill Lynch will be a valuable asset that will allow this project to reach every child in the planet, especially those in need. The fact that this is a project that will be distributed through the internet and other media gives Panwapa a worldwide exposure and therefore the possibility of reaching far. Another important value is the creativity involved in the creation of the program through the use of Muppets, which is an excellent way of giving messages to children. I don’t know of any other project with all of these amazing characteristics.

Asha Singh: Panwapa address social realities children encounter in different parts of the world with little attempt to camouflage socio-cultural differences. Long live the Indian adage "Vasudheva Kutumbakam" - The World is a Family.

Spyros Spyrou: Panwapa is a unique program in terms of its entertainment value and developmental appropriateness as well as its emphasis on human relationships as they exist in the local and familiar contexts of children’s lives and as they extend outwards to encompass the larger world we are all part of.