The International Rescue Committee helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and gain control of their future.In 2018, Sesame Workshop and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) joined forces to created the Ahlan Simsim initiative to give children affected by conflict and crisis in the Middle East the support they need to learn, grow and thrive.

Ahlan Simsim reaches children and families wherever they are—from classrooms, health clinics, and learning centers to TVs and mobile devices—through programming integrating direct services for families with award-winning educational media, including a locally produced version of Sesame Street.

Through Ahlan Simsim, or “Welcome Sesame,”  the International Rescue Committee and Sesame Workshop are bringing early childhood development and playful learning to children—like Ayla in Jordan—who are affected by conflict and crisis in the Middle East.

'Ahlan Simsim' is a new, local, Arabic-language version of 'Sesame Street' designed to help young refugees in the Middle East cope with crisis. It's part of a larger education partnership between the International Rescue Committee and Sesame Workshop.