visionary

HSBC Financial Literacy Kit

India

HSBC, Sesame workshop present kit to make money matters easy for kid
New Delhi | Saturday, Dec 11 2010 IST

In an initiative to make money matters easy for children, the HSBC, in collaboration with the Sesame workshop, have launched a 'Maths & Money Sense Kit' designed to make learning numeracy and financial literacy easy, fun and interesting for young children.

The kit, designed to make learning numeracy and financial literacy easy, fun, and interesting for young children (0-8) through Chamki and Googly, the cartoon characters of the famous television show 'Galli Galli Sim Sim', was launched at a function here this weekend.

The kit also includes the basic concept of buying and spending and put an emphasis on money saving. It teaches about numbers, matching, sorting, counting, sequencing, numbers identification, market stand, and journey of coin.

Talking about the initiative, Sashwati Banerjee, Executive Director of Galli Galli Sim Sim said, ''Its an educative initiative for children. We are also broadcasting our show on Cartoon Network and Pogo. We are working with many NGOs like Naandi foundation, SEWA and Save the Children India in partnership and developing teaching material for 2000 centre of aganwadi and balwadi in six states.'' Speaking on the occasion, Malini Thadani of HSBC India said, ''Through the kit, children can learn numeric in a fun and easy way. It is a Galli Galli Sim Sim initiative. The central aim of HSBC is to provide access to education to especially underprivileged children.''

The UK News Paper - The Independent

From the UK newspaper The Independent:

"India is to get its own version of the children's programmeSesame Street, complete with a giant psychedelic lion who is supposed to be descended from maharajahs and who loves bhangra music. The television show, which will be launched this summer, has been adapted for Indian children.The main action will take place in a galli -- one of the narrow side streets that are choked with cycle-rickshaws, cows and market stalls.

"The Indian version, named Galli Galli Sim Sim, will be centred on a corner store rather than a bakery, as in the American show. Elmo and Big Bird are expected to make an appearance. But they will be joined by four puppets created for Indian audiences by puppet designer, Ed Christie, the most exotic of which is Boombah, a lion with red, blue and purple fur, who is supposed to hail from the royal family of Boombagarh. There may be a slight satirical note in the fact that Boombah is something of a party animal - the scions of several of India's old royal families have a reputation for enjoying the party life.

"The central character will be Chamki, a puppet of a five-year-old girl dressed in the uniform of a government school. Her best friend is Googly -- named, of course, after the cricket delivery. And there is Aanchoo, a storyteller who is transported to another place when she sneezes.

"The producers say the cast will represent the range of India's different ethnic and regional peoples. So the owner of the corner store, played by a human actor, will speak several Indian languages, while his wife comes from the north-east, where you are more likely to find noodles than chicken tikka."

Quote

I am extremely happy that a revolutionary pre-school kids’ television series, Galli Galli Sim Sim, is launching in India. I am sure that the compelling educational content that the programme has to offer will change the face of young kids’ education in India, just like the globally renowned Sesame Street show has in many countries across the world. For me, Sesame India’s local version, Galli Galli Sim Sim, in days to come, will become an asset to Indian kids’ education as well as provide a new direction in teaching kids to love, understand and celebrate India’s diversity and rich culture. I wish Turner, Sesame Workshop and Miditech the best of luck in this landmark venture - Galli Galli Sim Sim.