Ahlan Simsim: Supporting the Well-Being of Children in Crisis and Conflict

This case study explores the challenge faced by Sesame Workshop and the International Rescue Committee of how to continue the impact of their Ahlan Simsim initiative as their main source of philanthropic funding ends. Launched in 2018, Ahlan Simsim combined the educational media expertise from Sesame Workshop with the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) experience delivering early childhood services in conflict areas to serve children affected by the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The initiative was the first recipient of the five-year, $100 million grant from the MacArthur Foundation’s 100&Change competition. By the time of the case, the initiative had reached 27 million children through the broadcast program and 2 million through direct services, and seen positive results from a randomized controlled trial and third-party studies. Yet, with the MacArthur grant sunsetting, the partnership needed to develop a strategy for how to continue the impact of Ahlan Simsim.