On Nigeria's Version of Sesame Street, AIDS

Nigeria will soon have a version of Sesame Street that deals with more than just learning how to count—one that aims to tackle the issues its kids face, like AIDS, malaria, and gender inequality. Sesame Square will follow a format similar to that of the popular American version, and will partially use old segments from the US-made show that are re-dubbed, in English, by Nigerian actors.

The show will also introduce two new characters: Kami, an orphan with HIV who will teach children about blood safety through her story, and Zobi, a yam-obsessed taxi driver (yams are a staple of Nigerian diets). But getting the show to children will be a challenge—with a power grid in shambles, organizers must bring generators to some villages so that the kids can gather to watch it. Read the full article to learn about how your tax dollars are funding Sesame Square.
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