Sesame Street to entertain children in Kosovo

Agence France Presse, Mon Apr 10, 2:42 PM ET

 

Beloved children's show Sesame Street is to be used as a part of a project to promote ethnic diversity in Kosovo, the OSCE Mission in the province said.

 

Twenty-six episodes of Rruga Sesam -- as the famous series is translated in majority Albanian language -- or Ulica Sezam, as it was called in minority Serbian language, will feature famous characters Elmo, Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie as well as footage taped in Kosovo this month.

 

The production will be broadcast throughout Kosovo by media both in Serbian and Albanian language.

 

The episodes, which are to show daily stories featuring children from various ethnic groups, are to address the "educational needs of children and encourage respect and understanding," the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission said in a statement.

 

"These segments will feature children from various ethnic groups, providing a window into Kosovo's rich diversity," said the OSCE, a partner in the project.

 

The series, which first appeared in its original form on TV screens in the UN-administered Serbian province of Kosovo in November 2004, was a great success among pre-school children.

 

But it was also praised for promoting respect and understanding among the various ethnic groups living in Kosovo.

 

First broadcast in the United States in 1969, Sesame Street uses a combination of puppets, animation, and live actors to teach young children the fundamentals of reading, arithmetic, colors and time-keeping.

 

Besides the OSCE, the project in Kosovo has been supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA).