"Sesame Street" has welcomed a new Muppet character who is a 6-year-old resident of Afghanistan. Her name is Zari and she will be promoting girls' empowerment and social wellbeing to the show's local viewers.
Zari will be part of the fifth season of "Baghch-e-Simsim," which is Afghanistan's local version of "Sesame Street" from the Sesame Workshop. Her name implies "shimmering" in the native language and she's described as a "curious and lively girl," per Reuters,
Zari's first segment on the show will involve three parts. She will be talking to a doctor to focus on kids' health and showing children why exercise is important. She will also be explaining the importance of greeting "asalaam alaikum" among friends, and in future episodes, she will teach young girls and boys lessons on empowerment and diversity. "We aim to help all children in Afghanistan grow smarter, stronger, and kinder," Sesame Workshop executive Sherrie Westin said, per Hollywood Reporter.
With Zari's help we will be featuring new, local segments in Afghanistan focusing on topics like girls' empowerment! pic.twitter.com/lFLFiHwsB5
— Sesame Workshop (@SesameWorkshop) April 7, 2016
We're excited to have Zari in the family! She's an incredible role model for kids around the world! #BaghcheSimsim pic.twitter.com/EMcRWiuwlh
— Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) April 7, 2016
To get this right, Sesame Workshop sought the help of the education ministry in Afghanistan before they brought Zari to avoid any potential backlash among the viewers of "Baghch-e-Simsim." The series is popular among Afghan children, especially in daycare centers, and viewership is at an all-time high of 86 percent, per New York Daily News.
"Sesame Street has done more to educate and entertain than any other children's program in Afghanistan," Saad Mohenseni of the Moby Group said. The company owns two channels that air the kids' show.
Watch a teaser of Zari on "Baghch-e-Simsim" or "Sesame Street" Afghanistan in the video below:
