Plaza Sesamo

Broadcast on Señal Colombia and Discovery Kids, Plaza Sésamo uses engaging live action, animation, and colourful characters in an effort to meet the educational needs of young children (ages 3-6) in Colombia - through an entertainment medium. The show features the furry and feathered Muppet characters Abelardo, Lola, and Pancho. Each episode combines animation, live action films and original music videos with segments produced on the Plaza Sésamo set intended to engage children and help them better understand the world around them.

As part of an effort to showcase the cultural diversity of Latin America on Plaza Sésamo, new live actions films produced in Colombia will offer a window into Colombia for viewers by engaging local children and youth in the production process. Specifically, teenagers will create live action films - part of an effort to give them "a voice and learning tool." In addition, primary school children, ages 5 to 9, will be given cameras so that they can take photos of moments in their daily lives. These photos will be used to inspire production of new animated segments, which appeared on Plaza Sésamo's 11th season (April 2008).

Educational print materials will be produced to complement and extend the impact of the television series. The materials will be designed to appeal to both children and parents and will be available at paediatrician offices, family and community centres, hospitals, and daycare facilities.

A variety of research studies will be implemented as part of an effort to ensure that the programme effectively reflects and addresses local needs. Formative research studies will assess children's local interests so that these can be reflected in the material developed for the project. The studies will also provide information on the appeal and comprehension of Plaza Sésamo content, as it is being developed, to further enhance the relevance of the materials. In addition, an impact evaluation will assess the project's reach and effectiveness.

June 2015 update:
Throughout 2015 and 2016, Plaza Sésamo and its partners will collaborate in the development of the following, which will be informed by formative research studies (focus groups with key audiences in participating countries, as well as appeal and comprehension studies with children):

• A healthy habits TV series made of 26 twelve-minute episodes that will be initially broadcasted in Ecuador and Mexico. In 2016, new broadcasting partners will be engaged for extended distribution.
• Thirteen PSAs produced in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Mexico using local celebrities and Plaza Sésamo's Muppets. These spots will be developed with messaging focused on country-specific priorities.
• A microsite within Plaza Sésamo's website, designed to serve as a repository for the audiovisual content as well as existing digital assets fitting within the educational framework of the strategy (initially, 3 eBooks and 1 HTML 5 game). The site will offer subscription functionality for parents interested in receiving monthly newsletters with tips and activities for promoting healthy habits. Focus areas include: body awareness, physical activity, healthy nutrition, self-care, oral health, and self-regulation.
• A Healthy Habits App designed to promote fun health related activities in a family setting. The app will provide a range of activities fitting to the various everyday settings where families spend their time and the resources they may have available. Initially this app will be open for download in México.

Early Childhood Development, Education, Health.

Founded in 1968, Sesame Workshop is a non-profit organisation that partners with local writers, artists, researchers, and educators in 120 countries around the world to create edutainment programmes with characters, sets, and content specifically designed for young children. Delivered through television, radio, film, video, books, magazines, and community outreach, these programmes are shaped by a research methodology that aims to engage and enrich children from particular cultures, while recognising the characteristics and needs that children everywhere share.