According to data by Unicef, 188 countries have imposed countrywide school closures, affecting more than 1.6 billion children and youth. The potential losses that may accrue in learning for today’s young generation, and for the development of their human capital, are hard to fathom. More than two-thirds of countries have introduced a national distance learning platform, but among low-income countries the share is only 30 percent. Before this crisis, almost one third of the world’s young people were already digitally excluded.
On this episode of TANTV Talks, over zoom, the hosts Adedayo Fashanu and Keoma La Hamer interview a special guest, Sherrie Westin. Sherrie addressed the impact of Sesame Workshop on childhood education especially as we continue to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
Towards the later end of the interview, the show introduces a guest, Mr Christian Acheleke. He is a peace building and countering violent extremists expert working in Cameroon and other conflict affected countries across the world. He joined the conversation to discuss his role and work in childhood education, supporting children within conflict regions in Cameroon.
Watch the full episode here:
About Sherrie Westin :
Sherrie Westin is President of Social Impact and Philanthropy for Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street.Westin leads the Workshop’s efforts to serve vulnerable children through mass media and targeted initiatives in the United States and around the world. She serves as Sesame Workshop’s chief mission ambassador, raising awareness, developing strategic partnerships, and cultivating philanthropic support to further the Workshop’s mission to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.
Westin spearheaded a partnership to create the largest early childhood intervention in the history of humanitarian response, bringing critical education and nurturing care to refugee children in the Syrian response region. Working with the International Rescue Committee, she led Sesame Workshop’s efforts to compete for and win a historic $100 million grant from the MacArthur Foundation to fund this work. She also championed the development of Julia, the first autistic Sesame Street Muppet and oversaw the launch of Sesame Street in Communities, Sesame’s comprehensive initiative designed to give children the tools they need to overcome traumatic experiences.
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