Jordan is currently hosting approximately 1.3 million Syrian refugees, 745,000 of which are officially registered. Over half are children whose formative years have been marked by displacement, chaos and violence. Conflict and displacement can negatively impact children’s intellectual and social-emotional development and threaten long-term economic prosperity, health and well-being. Due solely to the circumstances of their birth into a conflict and crisis setting, these children are at high-risk for failing to reach their full developmental potential.

 

The IRC’s Response

Responding to the urgent, unmet needs of young children affected by conflict and crisis in the Middle East, the IRC and Sesame Workshop are working together to provide children in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq the support they need to learn, grow, and thrive. Evidence shows that effective early childhood development (ECD) interventions can help reverse the harmful impact of early stress and trauma while restoring the possibility and hope for a brighter future.

Ahlan Simsim - “Welcome Sesame” in Arabic - provides the largest ECD programs in the history of humanitarian response through three components

 

Direct Services

Programs for families aim to empower and support caregivers to provide nurturing, responsive care for their children and include home visiting and digital supports for caregivers through text messages, videos, and social media. Programs for children provide safe, secure, joyful and engaging opportunities to play and learn. These programs include preschool classroom program and activity guides that can be adapted to different spaces and context.

Mass Media

The program includes a newly developed all-new locally produced, Arabic-language version of Sesame Street, delivered through broadcast channels, YouTube and PSAs. Ahlan Simsim show is designed specifically for refugee and host community populations and complements the content developed for direct service materials. It features three original Muppet characters – Basma, Jad, and Ma’zooza.

Influencing Policy and Practice

Our overarching goal is that young children affected by conflict and displacement have access to high quality, inclusive ECD services and supports that enable them to reach their potential and lead successful, fulfilling lives. We are aiming to set new standard for humanitarian assistance in this space, and Ahlan Simsim is engaging humanitarian actors, donors and host governments in advocacy efforts to increase prioritization of ECD in humanitarian response.

Watch an episode:

Meet Eileen and Fatima

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“I watch Ahlan Simsim on TV, I love Basma and I also sometimes watch her on YouTube. I learned how to arrange my toys and clothes,” says four-year-old Eileen.

Like all mothers, Fatima, 33 years old, is constantly on the look-out for any opportunity to improve Eileen’s skills and build up her confidence. “When you guide your child towards something positive, this will have an influence and you will definitely see a difference in his or her daily habits and behavior” says Fatima.

That’s why the IRC has trained Syrian and Jordanian volunteers to teach parents–whether refugees or vulnerable Jordanians–how to use play in their early learning activities with their children, and to recognize the importance of play for children’s early development. The Ahlan Simsim ECD program helps caregivers of children ages six months to eight years build up their child’s confidence and equips the child with language and other skills they need to thrive.

I wasn't expecting my four-year-old daughter to respond much to the activities, but when I started seeing her getting into the activities and listening to the advice given, following correct hygiene practices and keeping herself clean, and arranging her toys after playing with them, it made me feel happy and proud of her

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Areej, a volunteer with the IRC, contacted Fatima and explained the services provided by the ECD program for parents and their children. She also described the new approach the IRC has been using to continue reaching children and their caregivers during the COVID-19 lockdown in Jordan, via phone calls and text messages that provide parents with key skills to help them support the holistic development of their children. These messages focus on the importance of play for early development, stress management for children and caregivers, empathy and practical tips such as how to make toys for children using easily available resources.

"I love to draw, I paint my mom and dad and a house with flowers. I like pink" says Eileen. Through the remote activity sessions she also learned to sterilize her hands, and to do breathing exercises whenever she feels stressed.

“What makes me proud of Eileen is that she’s a quick-witted child” says Fatima, “Eileen, her brother and sister bring happiness to my life and I wish them a wonderful future"

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