On November 20, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti launched the ‘Learn, Play, Grow’ initiative, a collaboration between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Sesame Street Workshop in India Trust. The program, aimed at improving early childhood education and health practices, was unveiled during International Education Week.
Fostering Literacy, Numeracy, and Health Education
During the launch event, Ambassador Garcetti expressed his excitement about the initiative, emphasizing its focus on key areas for children’s development: literacy, numeracy, and health education. He explained, “Through characters like Elmo and Chamki, we are teaching children about important topics like washing hands, counting, and reading, laying a strong foundation for their future success.”
The initiative will reach children in Rajasthan and Telangana, with digital content available in Hindi and Telugu. Through interactive learning, the program aims to teach essential skills and promote hygiene habits, offering children an exciting start to their educational journey.
Reaching Millions with Digital Content
The program will utilize digital content to reach millions of students across India, with hands-on workshops benefiting tens of thousands of children in Rajasthan and Telangana. These workshops will be conducted in over 1,000 Anganwadi Centers and focus on play-based learning, making education fun and accessible.
Supporting India’s Educational Goals
‘Learn, Play, Grow’ aligns with India’s NIPUN Bharat mission, which aims for universal foundational literacy and numeracy. The program also emphasizes inclusive and gender-equitable education, ensuring that children from all backgrounds can benefit. Ambassador Garcetti showcased USAID’s broader impact, including support for gender-inclusive classrooms, multilingual resources, and assistance for children with disabilities.
Sesame Street’s Global Impact
Characters like Elmo, Chamki, Cookie Monster, and Grover are central to the program, helping teach children valuable lessons in a fun, engaging way. The initiative promises to spark positive change in early childhood education across India, with a focus on engaging families and communities for broader impact.