Positively Sesame Street

In South Africa’s war against AIDS, a cute and cuddly five-year-old is preparing to make an important debut. Meet Kami, the world’s first HIV-positive Sesame Street Muppet. Takalani Sesame, South Africa’s version of the famous U.S. television series (takalani means “get happy” in Venda), has been running for two years on the South African Broadcasting Corp. network. Under the creative direction of its U.S. originator, Sesame Workshop, the South African version uses homegrown characters and situations to educate while entertaining young children throughout the country.

Incorporating all 11 of South Africa’s official languages into its pedagogue- approved scripts, Takalani Sesame is seen by an estimated half-million kids a week. It teaches basic skills and rules of behavior, and tries to help children understand and enjoy South Africa’s multiracial culture.

Not so easy to explain is the reality of an AIDS epidemic that affects almost one in nine South Africans, including about 250,000 children. The number of orphans who have lost their parents to AIDS is expected to approach 2 million by 2010. And a major obstacle in the fight against the disease is the stigma associated with it. The subject of AIDS is regarded by many people as taboo and sufferers, whether adults or children, are treated as social outcasts. “There are few media interventions that directly address HIV/AIDS for very young children,” says Gloria Britain, Takalani Sesame’s production manager. “We saw how we could help fill this void.”

After months of discussion, Takalani Sesame came up with Kami, a ginger-haired, golden-yellow Muppet who joins the show starting Sept. 30 for 104 half-hour episodes. With backing from the Department of Education and sponsors including USAID and Sanlam, one of the country’s major insurance companies, the program will go out not only on TV but — another first for a Sesame production — on radio and through an outreach and training program that includes printed material and puppet shows. “We hope to reach a stage where every child in our country will have access to the Takalani Sesame message,” says Minister of Education Kader Asmal.

The target audience for Takalani Sesame is children aged three to seven, but producers expect the new HIV/AIDS focus to attract older kids. When Kami bounces onto the screen, she will come across as a perky, fun-loving and healthy HIV-positive character with a wealth of information about HIV/AIDS to share with her inquisitive friends. “She’s emotionally and intellectually intelligent, with an insight that goes beyond her five years,” says Britain.

Kami — from a Tswana tribal word for “acceptance” — will challenge the stereotype of the HIV-infected sickly child and focus instead on fun and friendliness. She will also introduce basic information and promote discussion about such uncuddly issues as death and social ostracism. In an episode next month, Kami has to deal with rejection at school because of her condition. Kami wins over her classmates, teaching the other children a lesson in tolerance and understanding of her sickness. “Kami is no outcast — far from it,” says Britain. “She’s lovable, and she’s loved.”

Sesame Street has been beamed to millions of children in more than 120 countries over the past 30 years. Though Sesame Workshop has no plans to introduce Kami in the U.S., says Robert Knezevic, Sesame’s head of international project management and development, “we will be seeing how the character unfolds and what potential it might have in other parts of the world.” Kami could put new life into South Africa’s HIV/AIDS awareness campaign. She may also have a bigger career. If she’s a hit in the new series, says scriptwriter Nick Warren, she could be the star of a full-length South African film to add to the propaganda war against AIDS: Kami — The Next Muppet Movie.

STREET LIFE
Sesame Street has co-produced 20 near-clones of itself around the world-each with agendas of its own. Meet the family WHO Kami, a fun but shy, nature-loving, schoolgirl on Takalani Sesame, South Africa
WHAT Taming fear and ignorance of AIDS with hope and knowledge
MIGHT SAY Enjoy Life!