Indiantelevision.com's Kidology
 
 
Galli Galli 'mass- edu' initiative reaches out to small towns and villages
 
By RENELLE SNELLEKSZ
Indiantelevision.com Team
(8 March 2007 5:00 pm)
 

MUMBAI: Welcoming one and all to the world of Elmo and his muppet friends, Sesame Workshop is steering its educational television show Galli Galli Sim Sim to kids in every nook and corner, encompassing cities and towns, slums and villages.

Following the completion of the pilot study of its outreach programme in Delhi and Mumbai, which is likely to end by 15 - 17 March, the non-profit educational organization has chalked out its plans to extend this outreach initiative to other parts of the country over the next three years.

In an exclusive conversation, Sesame Workshop - India executive director Sashwati Banerjee shared with Indiantelevsion.com the companies plans on to spread 'Galli Galli mein shor!'

While the slum kids in Delhi and Mumbai will be the first to experience the screenings that the Galli Galli…. branded vegetable cart and the specially designed bioscopes will deliver, the organization has sketched out its roadmap targeting to take the mass education programme to Bangalore and Delhi in 2008 and Kolkata and Chennai in 2009. This is part of the six metro plan which is funded by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation through grants.

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But that's not all, simulatnouesly the organization is conducting a trial phase of the programme in Ahmedabad in collaboration with Seva, but customized to the given location this model will use a cycle rickshaw to drive the message of promoting early childhood education. This will be further taken to other small towns and mini metros like Pune, Nasik and Thane.

Banerjee is also exicted about taking the outreach initiative to rural India this year. She says that they are currently in talks with the Maharashtra Government and will be presenting their proposals, in order to partner with them in the rural areas of Maharashtra and Gujarat. Additionally, they are also scouting for partnerships with grass root level NGO's as "Partners are critical for us," she opines.

"However this will be huge challenge for us as it will require a stronger training module for the teachers at the aganwadi centres and worst still, it is not possible to link what is taught there back to TV, because unfortunately most of these areas are media dark. Therefore we will have to find ways to continuously bring back the show to these children."

Banerjee explains that the talks with State Governments and later the implementation will emphasis on the educational component that is largely marginalized in the Integrated Child Development Schemes, with greater importance given to health and nutrition. "Education is the key and everything else will flow from that platform."

As reported earlier, the outreach initiative is based on two separate models of reach and impact. The former applies a multiple exposure module of Galli Galli Sim Sim, so that increased contact will help children to learn better. "Thus the slums will house the push carts with TV's that will follow a pre-determined route exposing the children to the show on three different occasions over a period of six months."

Following which, television sets and DVD's will be distributed to balwadis where teachers will be trained and oriented to support guided viewing and drive impact. In towns with poor electricity the bioscope will be used to teach the kids. The aim is not only spread awareness of the show but also to inculcate among parents the importance of early childhood education for their children. This impact based model is used to reinforce educational goals and by partnering with local NGO's will develop learning materials akin to their curriculum.

Bullish on their plans in India Sesame Workshop is geared to spread their message on the importance of childhood education far and wide. Banerjee adds, "It's not enough to expose the children to the show, but to sustain the effort over a period of time and in the most cost effective manner."

Hoping to achieve their focus she concludes, "Our aim is to make the grounding for childhood education strong in India, by taking this message especially to children that dont have access to television."
 
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