Sesame Workshop Initiative Fosters Global Citizenship

Sesame Workshop and the Merrill Lynch Foundation have created Panwapa, a worldwide kids’ initiative complete with new characters Azibo, Athena, and Baabra. Panwapa, which means “here on this earth” in the Tshiluba language, aims to foster the foundation for global citizenship and community participation in 4- to 7-year-old children. Panwapa consists of an interactive Web site (

www.panwapa.com

), a DVD, and print materials that are available in five languages to children around the world—Arabic, English, Japanese, Mandarin, and Spanish. Panwapa will be available for free on iTunes (

www.iTunes.com

) and starting January 2008, Panwapa will be available on free video-on-demand via PBS KIDS Sprout. Panwapa games and information will also be available at

SproutOnline.com

.