The Emirates Foundation for Philanthropy, one of the UAE’s leading philanthropic institutions, is bringing the legendary Sesame Street children’s show concept to the UAE.

US-based Sesame Workshop, together with Emirates Foundation’s science, technology and environment programme, will produce the show Reach for the Sky nightly at the Marina Mall Abu Dhabi, starting from August 12, and will continue throughout Ramadan.

In addition to learning about planets, galaxies, the earth and stars children will explore the phases of the moon and their relationship with Arabian months, including the month of Ramadan, and Islamic achievements in the fields of science and astronomy, a statement said.

The show will feature Sesame characters such as Elmo, Bert, Ernie and Khokha. Alongside the performances an exhibition will screen classic episodes of Sesame Street.

The event will also feature a Story Time corner, where the audience is taken on a journey into space through literature, and the Creation Corner, children can draw constellations, make paper planes and build rockets.

“Reach for the Sky stands as part of our larger project Science in the Mall, a scheme we organize every summer,” said Dr Abdullah Ismail Abdullah, senior advisor to the Emirates Foundation’s science, technology and environment programme.

“In the last two years the project was implemented in Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi. Based on the feedback and success of this year’s edition, we will study the possibility of doing the same event in other emirates.”

“We aim to reach 1,000 children per day in the age range of 4 to 14 years old,” he added.

Homaid Al Shemmari, executive director at Mubadala Aerospace, which is sponsoring the event, said: “I want the children of the UAE to stimulate their minds with the wondrous world of science and math, get a taste for the many exciting opportunities and fun possibilities that lay within those fields and learn how they can be explored within careers in the aerospace industry.”

Robert Knezevic, Sesame Workshop’s regional director of international partnerships, said: “Many of today's parents grew up with Iftah Ya Simsim and we commend the Emirates Foundation for their leadership in re-introducing the project to today's children.”

“Our joint objective is to prepare today's young people with the skills necessary for the 21st century,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service