TEACHING children about road safety, waste management and public safety is now made interesting with the help of Sesame Street’s Elmo, Cookie Monster, Big Bird and their friends.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday partnered with Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind the iconic television series, for a three-year educational campaign for children.
“We are very excited about this initiative which focuses on
children, the future citizens of Metro Manila. It is everybody’s responsibility
to teach kids respect for the rules and compassion for the
community, and we at the MMDA are proud to be with Sesame Workshop at the
frontline of this endeavor. We hope that through our lineup of activities under
this partnership, the kids will carry out these lessons throughout childhood
and into their adult lives, as well,” MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim said during the
partnership launch that took place at the Children’s Road Safety Park in
Manila.
The collaboration aims to help children and families learn about road safety, caring for the environment and preparing for emergencies in the context of MMDA’s functions.
MMDA believes Sesame Street is the ideal partner for this endeavor, since the show pioneered the educational program format for kids.
“For the last 50 years, Sesame Street has brought the life-changing benefits of early learning to children around the globe,” said Will DePippo, director, Asia Pacific, for Sesame Workshop.
The program included the signing of a memorandum of agreement between Lim and DePippo.
“We’re proud to partner with MMDA on a campaign where Elmo, Cookie Monster and Big Bird are helping to deliver educational messages in a fun and engaging way for children and their families.”
Wall Art
Invited guests, including children, also had an exclusive preview of the ongoing MMDA x Sesame Street Wall Art, which spans 500 meters and is done in partnership with Davies Paints.
Davies Paints, a long-time partner of MMDA, plays an essential role in the ongoing MMDA x Sesame Street Wall Art by providing the painting materials and labor requirements of the project.
These efforts are part of Davies Paints’ commitment to aid in the rehabilitation and maintenance of the Children’s Road Safety Park. The event will conclude with children and members of the media taking a guided tour of the venue, the Children’s Road Safety Park.
Through the walkthrough, children were taught about traffic rules and regulations using the miniature street-related structures in the vicinity. MMDA hopes to mount a traveling road safety park of similar nature, which the agency will take to different cities around Metro Manila.
Within the three-year partnership, MMDA and Sesame Street will work hand in hand on activities such as, but not limited to, wall arts along the major thoroughfares of Metro Manila, a family fun run, the MMDA Children’s Handbook, and a children’s exposition, which is essentially a cross between an educational theme park and experiential museum.