SESAME OPENS FOR AFGHANS

Sesame Workshop is bowing educational tyke show Baghche-simsim (Sesame Garden) in Afghanistan in partnership with local stations Tolo TV and Lemar TV on Dec. 1. With only a small percentage of Afghan children served by the countrys kindergarten system, Baghch-e-simsim is designed to fill that void by educating children with two-to-three minute minidocumentaries, 13 of which will be locally produced. The series will emphasize literacy, math, life skills and school readiness, and will place an extra emphasis on girls education, cultural awareness and diversity. Sesame Street residents Elmo, Big Bird and Grover, and puppets from countries including Egypt, Bangladesh, Mexico and Russia will be on hand. Shelby Hill