based Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States (ABEGS) is inviting educationists to participate in a seminar Saturday to discuss the content and revival of Iftah Ya Simsim, popularly dubbed as Arabic Sesame Street. The ABEGS, a regional GCC organization dedicated to education, research, and development and Sesame Workshop, a non-profit educational organization had signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) last year to re-launch the much-loved Iftah Ya Simsim brand for the new generation of children. According to sources, the two-day seminar at ABEGS premises in Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh is aimed at building content for Iftah Ya Simsim and design a modern educational framework that provides innovative educational resources to the children in the emerging world scenario. Iftah Ya Simsim was the first Sesame Street co-production in Arabic which aired 30 years ago in the Middle East. The participants will discuss the consequences of the return of Iftah Ya Simsim in a seminar, sponsored by GCC Joint Program Production Institution (GCC-JPPI) and Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC). The new educational initiative has an objective to achieve measurable educational gains for children in the early school years. The seminar's topics include the richness and diversity in Arabic culture and heritage, school readiness, healthy lifestyles and the importance of educating girls. Iftah Ya Simsim content may be featured on television, books and outreach materials. The ABEGS also assists its member states in building and unifying education systems to meet the challenges of the 21st century. It also introduces, updates, and promotes education reform and modern techniques consistent with Islam and the traditional values of the region. “The invitation to the seminar is open to educationists, particularly specialized in areas such as child psychology, methods of modern education, education of people with special needs, food culture, and social health,” said an official source. Interested people can register online through www.iftahyasimsim.org
